DORA - Defence of the Realm Act, 1914

The Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) was passed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 1914, four days after it entered WW1 (1914-8-4) and was added to as the war progressed. It gave the government wide-ranging powers during the war, such as the power to requisition buildings or land needed for the war effort, or to make regulations creating criminal offences.

DORA ushered in a variety of authoritarian social control mechanisms, such as censorship:

"No person shall by word of mouth or in writing spread reports likely to cause disaffection or alarm among any of His Majesty's forces or among the civilian population"

Anti-war activists, including John MacLean, Willie Gallacher, John William Muir, and Bertrand Russell, were sent to prison. The film, The Dop Doctor, was prohibited under the act by the South African government with the justification that its portrayal of Boers during the Siege of Mafeking would antagonise Afrikaners.

The trivial peacetime activities no longer permitted included flying kites, starting bonfires, buying binoculars, feeding wild animals bread, discussing naval and military matters or buying alcohol on public transport. Alcoholic drinks were watered down and pub opening times were restricted to noon–3pm and 6:30pm–9:30pm (the requirement for an afternoon gap in permitted hours lasted in England until the Licensing Act 1988).

The original Act was amended and extended six times over the course of the War, firstly on 28 August 1914 by the Defence of the Realm (No. 2) Act 1914, and on 27 November 1914 by the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation Act), 1914 (which repealed and replaced the previous Acts). It was amended three times in 1915, by the Defence of the Realm (Amendment) Acts, 1915 (5 Geo. 5, cc. 34, 37), and (5 & 6 Geo. 5, c. 42).

Emergency wartime/postwar legislation by era and jurisdiction

Era	Jurisdiction	Legislation
WW1	Australia	War Precautions Act 1914
	Canada	War Measures Act
	USA	Espionage Act of 1917; Sedition Act of 1918
Post-WWI	UK	Emergency Powers Act 1920; Restoration of Order in Ireland Act 1920
WW2	Canada	National Resources Mobilization Act
	Ireland	Emergency Powers Act 1939
	UK	Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939; Treachery Act 1940

Munitions of War Act 1915 .

Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 ..