The Home Front - Rationing

Lesson starter:Explain in your own words what Lloyd George meant with this quote – why do you think ‘drink’ would have such an impact on the war effort?

“We are fighting Germany, Austria and

drink, and as far as I am concerned, the greatest of these foes is drink.”

(David Lloyd George)

Today we will…

• Create individual ration books• Identify why rationing was

introduced in World War One.• Explain the ways in which rationing

affected people’s health.

Success Criteria…

• I will create a ration book• I will be able to identify

reasons why rationing was introduced.

• I will be able to evaluate the impact rationing had on British society.

Firstly, fold you sheet in half, then fold it again and then, cut along the top fold.

Front page Sign for the Ministry of Food

Dates – 1918-1919

Ration Book

Name, initials and address

Food Office stamp

Serial number

Inside page

Draw a table on your inside pageMEAT

SUGAR

BUTTER

JAM

TEA

SPARE

Inside page

For each item of food in your list, write the name of the butcher / corner shop / grocers where you could buy those products.

Don’t put a supermarket – they didn’t exist!!

Inside page II

Copy this table on the next page of your ration book – cross off some of the products and put a date for when they were bought – date must be in 1918!

MEAT 4 Oz

SUGAR 8 Oz

BUTTER 2 Oz

JAM 1 lb every 2 months

TEA 2 Oz

SPARE

Why was rationing introduced?For the majority of World War One, rationing was not needed as the restrictions of D.O.R.A meant that there was enough food to go around.

People were encouraged to ‘do their bit’ and not waste food.

Why was rationing introduced?

In 1917, the Germans started unrestricted submarine warfare – previously they had only torpedoed military ships, but they started targeting all ships.

Towards the end of the war, Britain started experiencing food shortages.

This affected Britain particularly badly because a lot of food came from the USA.

In February 1917, the German ‘U-Boats’ sank 230 ships bringing food to Britain.

In March, Britain lost half a million tons of shipping.

Germany’s U-Boat warfare was beginning to have a massive impact on British food supply.

The British government tried lots of strategies to defeat the U-Boats:

Merchant Convoys – ships going across the Atlantic with food and supplies had protection from military ships.

Dazzle camouflage ships – ships were painted to mislead the enemy as it was difficult to judge the ship’s distance or speed.

Fines for trying to get more food than you were allowed.

Impact of rationing on British civilians

As a result of the U-Boat campaign, there were food shortages in Britain.

Food queues were a common sight across Britain.

Impact of rationing on British civilians

By April 1916, there was only enough wheat in Britain to last six more weeks!

Impact of rationing on British civilians

Rationing was introduced in 1918.

Everyone had to register at a butcher and a grocer.

Although rationing showed the public that there were problems with food supply, it did work.

Malnutrition almost disappeared in some poorer communities and no one starved in

Britain during World War one.

Why do you think rationing improved the diet of many people in Britain?

Impact of rationing on British civilians

“Rationing should be introduced in Britain today to improve the nation’s health

and solve the problem of obesity.”

Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons for

your answer.

Today we will…

• Create individual ration books• Identify why rationing was

introduced in World War One.• Explain the ways in which rationing

affected people’s health.

Success Criteria…

• I will create a ration book• I will be able to identify

reasons why rationing was introduced.

• I will be able to evaluate the impact rationing had on British society.