1. What you need to know
How the war gave a boost to industries such as coal mining and shipbuilding – and what happened to them when the war ended.
How the war affected fishing and farming in Scotland – and what happened to them after the war.
How people coped with wartime shortages.
What problems the Scottish economy faced after the war.
What the ‘land question’ was in the Highlands and islands, and whether it was resolved.

2. Scottish Industry
Heavy industry – the old traditional industries that were known as ‘staple industries’ – coal mining, ship building and the production of iron and steel – were boosted by WW1.
After the war these industries went into serious decline and by the mid-1920s Scotland was facing rising unemployment and industrial decline.

3. Shipbuilding
Just before WW1, 14% of the adult male working population depended on the shipbuilding industry for their weekly wages.
The Clyde was the ‘workshop of the world’ with the best reputation and best facilities for shipbuilding
When war broke out the main shipyards on the Clyde (Beardmore, Fairfields and John Brown) were taken under the control of the Royal Navy under the Munitions of War Act.
After the war international trade slumped and so did the shipbuilding industry. As orders for new ships dried up, unemployment rose.

4. Steel
The heavy industry of steel production in Scotland was boosted by the outbreak of war
Steel was needed to make warships, helmets, weapons, munitions etc
Steel Forges such as the Parkhead Forge, owned by William Beardmore enjoyed a boom in orders as well as providing employment for the local area
Demand fell after 1918 as it was no longer needed in such high quantities and this had a negative impact on jobs and wages in the industry

5. Coal Mining
As the primary fuel of the time, Scotland needed as much coal as possible to fuel factories and homes
Coal also fuelled steamships of the time
The war gave a big boost to the industry
Coal miner’s jobs were protected – no conscription
Many mines in Lanarkshire eg Belshill and in Ayrshire
The industry went into decline after the war as demand fell and new energies became more popular.

6. Textiles
The textile industry went into overdrive at the outbreak of war
Mills were given the task of producing soldiers’ uniforms
There were many cotton mills near Coatbridge and Lanark.
25% of Dundee’s male workers and 67% of female workers dependent on the jute industry for employment.
Jute was imported from India to be made into sandbags and sacks for the war which boosted production
After the war there was competition with India as they produced it more cheaply which caused the industry to go into decline in Dundee

7. 4. Food and Farming
In 1914 Britain bought much of its food from abroad (2/3) however during the was Germany used its to sink ships carrying supplies to Britain.
During the war, many farmers made money out of the rising demand for food and animals.
Scottish sheep farmers did well. By 1918 sheep prices were 60% higher than in 1914 as the government needed wool for blankets and uniforms for soldiers.
Farming was still doing well after the war as food shortages still existed and rationing continued until 1920.

8. Fishing
Historians of the Scottish fishing industry describe the years around 1900 as the ‘glory days’. Huge shoals of herring provided wealth and employment to fishing towns all over the country.
At the peak of the herring boom in 1907, 2.5 million barrels were exported – the main markets being Germany, Eastern Europe and Russia.
In September 1914 Scotland’s east coast ports were taken over by the Admiralty. The North Sea was almost closed to fishing. Although, restrictions relaxed as war progressed – this was the only industry to be negatively impacted by war.

9. The type of farm worker changed as many men left to ‘join up’.
Women, boys and older men took their place. In fact, 30,000 prisoners, 16,000 members of the Women’s Land Army and even conscientious objectors worked in agriculture during the war.
The war gave a boost to mechanisation as many thousands of farm horses were taken away for the war effort.

10. Rationing As food became scarcer, prices went up.
For the wealthy price rises were an inconvenience but for the poor expensive food meant long queues and less money to spend on other essentials.
By the end of 1917, it was clear that Britain was facing serious food shortages.
Panic-buying led to worse shortages.

11. In January 1918 the government introduced a system of rationing.
The aims of rationing was to conserve food supplies, ensure fair distribution and control the rising prices that were becoming a serious problem.
As prices rose so did the risk of discontent and demonstrations that could have hindered the war effort.
Full-scale rationing was in force in Scotland by April 1918.
Sugar was the first item to be rationed and this was later followed by butcher meat.
By the end of the war almost all foods were subject to price control by the government.
In some cases rationing even lasted until after the war: for example, sugar and butter remained on ration until 1920.

12. Was rationing successful?
Rationing did ensure fairer supplies of food at reasonable prices.
However, the defeat of the U-boat campaign and the surrender of Germany by the end of 1918 meant that Britain did not have to endure serious hardships that would have tested the rationing system to its limits.
Interestingly, it was the Royal Navy’s blockade of Germany that caused starvation in Germany . Lack of food and war materials were the main reasons for the defeat of Germany.