DORA and the home front

Explain how the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA, 1914) changed life in Britain during the First World War. [8 marks]

Mark scheme (levels-based):

L2 (3–5): Describes 2–3 specific DORA provisions; notes government gained more power; limited analysis.

L3 (6–8): Analyses why each change was significant: (a) censorship of press and private letters — limited free speech in wartime but controlled morale; (b) government could take over factories and control production — transformed the economy; (c) BST (British Summer Time) introduced to maximise daylight working hours — shows how war penetrated even the measurement of time; (d) alcohol restrictions (reduced pub hours) — social transformation; (e) rationing 1918 — showed the state could ration citizens' consumption when needed. Significance: DORA marks the transition from laissez-faire liberal government to an interventionist state — a permanent shift that influenced the welfare state.