The Great War in Numbers

S01E04 The Home Front

The Great War significantly affected those on the Home Front, altering the lives of men, women, and children alike. One of the most notable transformations occurred for women throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, as many job opportunities opened up for them after 1914. Meanwhile, governments took drastic measures to control daily life. In Britain, the Defence of the Realm Act prohibited activities like lighting bonfires and whistling for taxis, while Russia imposed a ban on vodka. In the U.S., the Sedition Act curtailed free speech, making it illegal to speak critically of the government. Propaganda and censorship became commonplace as authorities sought to shield citizens from the grim realities of the war, even affecting postal services, which soon became the least of people's concerns.