The War created a new economic and political situation : (i) It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes, customs duties were raised, and income tax introduced. (ii) Through the war years, prices increased – doubling between 1913 and 1918 – leading to extreme hardships for the common people. (iii) Villagers were called upon to supply soldiers, and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger.