Impact of War on Farming & Fishing (SQA National 5 History): Revision Note
Exam code: X837 75
Summary
The war changed fishing and agriculture in Scotland. Government naval controls meant that much of the North Sea was off-limits and controlled by the Navy. Farming faced labour shortages as men left to fight on the Western Front.
What was the impact on fishing?
The Admiralty closed or controlled large areas of the North Sea
This reduced fishing and the amount of fish caught
Fishing incomes decreased significantly
Many Scottish trawlers and drifters from Peterhead were requisitioned for minesweeping and patrols
This reduced the civilian fleet
By 1916, requisitioning severely limited the fish supply
Scottish vessels sailing near home waters faced mines and U-boats
Several East Coast drifters were sunk in 1915
What was the impact on farming?
Food prices rose from 1916, with potatoes more than doubling in cost year-on-year
The production of uniforms led to an increased demand for wool
A shortage of agricultural workers led to increased wages
Rationing was introduced from December 1917 to tackle the issue of food scarcity and fair pricing
Women filled many of the farming jobs left by men who went to fight
Scotland drew on the Women’s Land Army (WLA) and other labour schemes to keep fields ploughed and harvested
The Corn Production Act (1917) guaranteed prices to expand cereal production, such as oats
The war changed the types of crops grown, and less meat was produced
After the war, there was an increase in food imports
This led to a decrease in profits made in Scottish agriculture
Worked Example
Explain the reasons why the Great War had an impact on fishing and agriculture, 1914–1928.
[6 marks]
Shortages of agricultural labourers after men enlisted meant farms struggled to maintain output, [1] which pushed up rural wages and forced changes such as employing more women to keep work going. [1]
Naval control and danger at sea reduced fishing: the Royal Navy requisitioned or restricted boats and areas, some vessels were converted into minesweepers, and German U-boats patrolled the North Sea, [1] so fewer boats could fish and catches fell. [1]
Markets and profitability declined: many boats were damaged and not replaced during the war, foreign markets were lost,[1] and after 1918, increased overseas competition meant both fishing and agriculture were less profitable, causing unemployment and contraction. [1]
Examiner Tips and Tricks
For an "explain" 6 mark question on fishing and agriculture, write three clearly developed reasons. Start each sentence with the reason, then add a because/therefore link to show how it impacted.
In the example above, you need to:
Cover both sectors (at least one reason for fishing and one for agriculture)
Cover the full time frame (1914–1928), include a wartime factor (e.g., U-boats/RN requisitioning, labour shortage) and a post-war factor (e.g., loss of markets/foreign competition).
Avoid narrative detail about individual experiences; keep each point cause → effect on jobs/output/prices/catches.
Unlock more, it's free!
Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams
the (exam) results speak for themselves:
Was this revision note helpful?
