1. Defence of the Realm Act
DORA
Defence of the Realm Act

2. Todays lesson
You will appreciate how the war affected the home front and Scottish society
You will understand the laws passed that affected the lives of the ordinary citizens and why the government passed them.

3. Total War
World War One was the first war to have a major effect on the lives of ordinary British citizens. For the first time, civilians faced Government control over their actions and their behavior. The Government wanted to make sure that the country’s morale was kept high. They wanted to prevent invasion and stop spies from entering Britain.

4. New government policy
On 8th August 1914, the British Government introduced the Defence of the Realm Act. It was quickly passed by Parliament
AUGUST 8TH, 1914 – THE GOVERNMENT PASSES THE D.O.R.A WHICH GIVES IT THE POWER TO CONTROL WHAT PEOPLE DO AND THE LAWS THAT ARE PASSED WITHOUT ASKING PARLIAMENT

5. Focus of D.O.R.A. Censorship Alien Registration Drunkness
Industry- total control over manufacturing
Conscription
Rationing
Propaganda

6. It included new laws stating that people could not:
Talk about naval or military matters in public places
Spread rumours about military matters
Buy binoculars
Trespass on railway lines or bridges
Melt down gold or silver
Light bonfires or fireworks
Give bread to horses, horses or chickens
Use invisible ink when writing abroad
Buy brandy or whisky in a railway refreshment room         
Ring church bells

7. The Laws includes rationing of foods like bread
And punishments for breaking them

8. DORA also specified that:
The Government could take over any factory or workshop
The Government could try any civilian breaking these laws
The Government could take over any land it wanted to
The Government could censor newspapers
As the war continued and evolved, the government introduced more acts to DORA:
The government introduced British Summer Time to give more daylight for extra work
Opening hours in pubs were cut
Beer was watered down
Customers in pubs were not allowed to buy a round of drinks

9. What is censorship and why were news papers censored?
A newspaper warning 1917
What is censorship and why were news papers censored?

10. Task Your teacher is going to display all the Laws
draw up a table in your jotter showing each of the laws and giving a reason why they were introduced.
For example;
This table will have to extended and you will need two lines per Law
Law
Why it was introduced

11. no-one was allowed to talk about naval or military matters in public places
the government could take over any factory or workshop
no-one was allowed to spread rumours about military matters
the government could try any civilian breaking these laws
no-one was allowed to buy binoculars
the government could take over any land it wanted to
no-one was allowed to trespass on railway lines or bridges
the government could censor newspapers
no-one was allowed to melt down gold or silver
As the war continued and evolved, the government introduced more acts to DORA.
no-one was allowed to light bonfires or fireworks
the government introduced British Summer Time to give more daylight for extra work
no-one was allowed to give bread to horses, horses or chickens
opening hours in pubs were cut
no-one was allowed to use invisible ink when writing abroad
beer was watered down
customers in pubs were not allowed to buy a round of drinks
no-one was allowed to buy brandy or whisky in a railway refreshment room
no-one was allowed to ring church bells