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: ''See also: Timeline of the United Kingdom home front during World War I'' The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland—then consisting of England, Scotland, Wales, and the whole of Ireland—was one of the Allied Powers during the First World War of 1914–1918, fighting against the Central Powers (the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Bulgaria). The state's armed forces were reorganised—the war marked the creation of the Royal Air Force, for example—and increased in size because of the introduction, in January 1916, of forced conscription for the first time in the kingdom's history as well as the raising of the largest all-volunteer army in history, known as Kitchener's Army, of more than two million men.〔 The outbreak of war has generally been regarded as a socially unifying event,〔 although this view has been challenged by more recent scholarship. In any case, responses in the United Kingdom in 1914 were similar to those amongst populations across Europe.〔Gregory (2008); Pennell (2012)〕 On the eve of war, there was serious domestic unrest in the UK (amongst the labour and suffrage movements and especially in Ireland) but much of the population rapidly rallied behind the government. Significant sacrifices were made in the name of defeating the Empire's enemies and many those who could not fight contributing to philanthropic and humanitarian causes. Fearing food shortages and labour shortfalls, the government passed legislation such as the ''Defence of the Realm Act'', to give it new powers. The war saw a move away from the idea of "business as usual" under prime minister Herbert Henry Asquith,〔 and towards a state of total war (complete state intervention in public affairs) under David Lloyd George,〔 the first time this had been seen in Britain. The war also witnessed the first aerial bombardments of cities in Britain. Newspapers played an important role in maintaining popular support for the war.〔 Large quantities of propaganda were produced by the government under the guidance of such journalists as Charles Masterman and newspaper owners such as Lord Beaverbrook. By adapting to the changing demographics of the workforce (or the "dilution of labour", as it was termed), war-related industries grew rapidly, and production increased, as concessions were quickly made to trade unions.〔 In that regard, the war is also credited by some with drawing women into mainstream employment for the first time.〔 Debates continue about the impact the war had on women's emancipation, given that a large number of women were granted the vote for the first time in 1918. The experience of individual women during the war varied; much depended on locality, age, marital status and occupation.〔Braybon (1990)〕〔Braybon (2005)〕 The civilian death rate rose due to food shortages and Spanish Flu, which hit the country in 1918.〔 Military deaths are estimated to have exceeded 850,000.〔 The Empire reached its zenith at the conclusion of peace negotiations.〔 However, the war heightened not only imperial loyalties but also individual national identities in the dominions (Canada, Newfoundland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) and India. Irish nationalists after 1916 moved from collaboration with London to demands for immediate independence (see Easter Rising), a move given great impetus by the Conscription Crisis of 1918.〔 Military historians continue to debate matters of tactics and strategy. However, in terms of memory of the war, historian Adrian Gregory argues that: :The verdict of popular culture is more or less unanimous. The First World War was stupid, tragic and futile. The stupidity of the war has been a theme of growing strength since the 1920s. From Robert Graves, through 'Oh! What a Lovely War' to 'Blackadder Goes Forth,' the criminal idiocy of the British High Command has become an article of faith." ==Government== The British Empire entered the World War with Herbert Henry Asquith of the Liberal Party as British prime minister. Asquith declared war on the German Empire on 1914, in response to the demands for military passage that were forced upon Belgium by Germany, and the expiration of Britain's own ultimatum at that day.〔Beckett (2007), pp 38–9〕 Britain's reasons for declaring war were complex: the Treaty of London of 1839 had committed the United Kingdom to safeguard Belgium's neutrality in the event of invasion, but the Foreign Office had already concluded that the treaty might not apply. Extensive secret talks regarding Britain's 'moral commitment' to France had been going on since 1905, but most members of Asquith's cabinet were not privy to them until 1911.〔 This lack of proof that war was unavoidable had led to disagreement within the cabinet as late as .〔 Asquith's Liberal government was brought down in , due in particular to a crisis in inadequate artillery shell production and the failed Gallipoli Campaign in the Dardanelles.〔Beckett (2007), pp 499–500〕 Reluctant to give in to demands for an election, Asquith proceeded to form a new coalition government on , with the majority of the new cabinet coming from his own Liberal party and the Unionist (Conservative) party brought in to shore up the government.〔 By , 184 members of parliament were serving with the armed forces.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「History of the United Kingdom during World War I」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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