DORAHome Front – Scotland During the

War

Today you will learn: What was DORA Regulations introduced Attitudes towards DORA

DORA Defence of the Realm Act – became law on 8

August 1914. Gave govt. wide-ranging powers to take action for

safety and security of the UK. New regulations were to:

Prevent communication with the enemy. Keep forces and ships safe, as well as means of

communicating with them. Prevent spread of false reports or reports likely to interfere

with success.

Censorship Newspapers were

censored so that enemy spies could not get information’

Also censored so that the British people could not find out about horrific military defeats.

CurfewsCurfews Curfews were imposed giving Curfews were imposed giving

police the right to stop and police the right to stop and search anyone out at night search anyone out at night without authority. without authority.

People were forbidden to People were forbidden to enter certain areas enter certain areas

People could not buy People could not buy binoculars without official binoculars without official permission.permission.

The Sale of Alcohol Laws were passed

restricting the sale of alcohol and the opening hours of pubs.

Beer was watered down to make it weaker

People were not allowed to buy a round and pubs were open for shorter hours…

COMPLETE TASKS 1 - 3COMPLETE TASKS 1 - 3

NEW REGULATION REASON

Censorship of Newspapers

11pm Curfew and restrictions on movement

Limit on pub opening hours

Watered down alcohol

British Summer Time

Ban on Guy Fawkes

Impact of DORA Aug 1914 War Office Press Bureau

established. Report of fighting limited. News and letters home from soldiers were

censored. Look at source 3.11 on page 72.

Question 4 - 6

The Highlands Land Question Ability to take over land to grow crops. “In the Highlands DORA, food production and

the old issue of land ownership and land seizures became interlinked”.

Only people readily available to farm local land were crofters.

Given temporary access to land. After the war, some refused to return land to

previous owners.

DORA

Opposition to DORA

Trivial nature of regulations – was not obvious why some were needed.

Opposition mainly about destruction of liberal traditions – civil liberties.

This eventually caused a split in the Liberal Party Govt. accused to abusing it’s powers and

silencing criticism or debate.

Question 1 - 3

The Opposition The ILP and Socialists were

prominent in their opposition

John MacLean is the most infamous Scottish opponent

He wrote many articles in the ILP newspaper Forward

Silencing Opposition Critics accused of undermining war effort and

being unpatriotic. Newspapers are closed down John McLean – arrested in 1915 for making

statements likely to undermine recruiting. William Scott – “the freedom of the individual

must be absorbed into the national effort for a time, but it is to be hoped only for a time”.

Public Opinion Critics like John MacLean did have

supporters, but in a minority. Belief that government action necessary to

win the war.

Question 4 – 7