The Home Front Chapter 7 Section 2 Pages 189-193
Managing the Economy Government Agencies Congress created several new federal agencies to manage the use of resources. These included the War Industries Board (WIB), Food Administration, Fuel Administration, and National War Labor Board (NWLB). WIB told manufacturers what they could produce, allocated raw materials, ordered new factory construction and sometimes set prices. Food Administration Herbert Hoover, responsible for increasing food production while reducing civilian consumption.
Victory Gardens Families encouraged to grow food and own vegetables
Fuel Administration Managed use of coal and oil Daylight Savings Time introduced Shortened workweeks for civilian good factories. Heatless Mondays
Managing the Economy Rationing Agencies encouraged citizens to ration food and energy for use in the war effort. Americans gave up commodities such as wheat, meat, and heating fuel on certain days, and grew victory gardens to supplement their own food supply.
Managing the Economy Taxes Congress raised income tax rates and established several new taxes on business and war profits in order to pay for the war effort. Bonds Americans purchased Liberty Bonds and Victory Bonds from the government to help fund the war. The government borrowed over $20 billion through these bonds.
Discussion Questions 1. How could average citizens support the war effort? A: Citizens could conserve food and energy resources for use by soldiers and war factories. They could also lend the government money by buying war bonds 2. Why do you think the federal government undertook such wide-scale economic and social mobilization? A: the government was determined to take any steps necessary to help the military succeed.
Mobilizing the Workforce National War Labor Board (NWLB) April 1918 Pressured industry to improve wages, adopt 8 hour work day and allow unions the right to organize and bargain Wanted to prevent strikes Membership in unions increased by over 1 million between 1917-1919
Managing the Workforce Women in the Workforce With so many men serving in the military, employers hired women to fill different types of jobs. About one million women entered the workforce, and an additional eight million took on better industrial jobs.
Managing the Workforce African Americans Move North Employers also hired many African Americans from the South to work in Northern factories. Hundreds of thousands of African Americans settled in cities including Chicago, New York, Cleveland, and Detroit, where they began influencing politics and culture. Henry Ford sent for workers from the South Great Migration
Managing the Workforce Mexican Americans Migrate More than 100,000 Mexicans moved to take agricultural jobs in the Southwest. Many others moved to cities to find manufacturing jobs. Tended to settle in barrios where they could support one another.
Do Now Complete the Great Migration Handout
Discussion Questions 3. How did life change for women on the home front during World War I? A: Many more women began working outside of the home in jobs traditionally held by men. Students will probably suggest that this changed society s view of women s capabilities and roles 4. How did life change for African Americans on the home front during World War I? A: Hundreds of thousands of African Americans left the Deep South for industrial jobs in the North. In Northern cities, these members of the Great Migration could vote and had greater civil rights.
Shaping Public Opinion Progressives did not think that organizing the economy was enough to ensure the success of the war effort. Government needed to shape public opinion Committee on Public Information The Committee on Public Information (CPI) produced pamphlets and paid speakers to encourage Americans to support the war effort.
Committee on Public Information Distributed pamphlets and arranged for thousands of four minute speeches to be delivered at movie theaters and other public places Urged people to support the war: buy bonds, report draft dodgers, ration food, etc.
Shaping Public Opinion Espionage Act of 1917 Congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917 to outlaw helping the enemy, giving false reports, or interfering with the war effort. Socialist Eugene V. Debs was famously arrested under this law.
Shaping Public Opinion Sedition Act of 1918 The Sedition Act of 1918 prohibited anyone from speaking out against the war. This allowed the government to arrest those who criticized government actions.
Shaping Public Opinion Anti-German Sentiment The war stirred feelings against German Americans, labor activists, radicals, and pacifists. Many German Americans changed their names and avoided speaking German in public.
Do Now Complete Schenck v. United States, 1919 Analyzing Supreme Court Cases Activity handout and the questions that go with it.
Discussion Questions 5. How were Americans rights limited during World War I? A: The government made it illegal to speak out against the war effort or criticize the government, thus limiting citizens freedom of speech 6. Do you think that the government was right to pass the Sedition Act? Why or why not? A: Students may support the Sedition Act because it supported victory in the war, or they may argue that citizens have the right to speak out against wars or government. Students may make connections with protests of twenty-first-century wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Mobilizing the Military Progressive Ideals Progressive ideals helped shape military recruitment practices. Local draft boards held the power to decide who was drafted into the army. Volunteers Some two million men enlisted in the war. African Americans in the Military Hundreds of thousands of African Americans served in the war, mostly in support roles. About 42,000 soldiers fought overseas in racially segregated units. Women in the Military For the first time, women served as official noncombatants in the U.S. Navy and the Army Nurse Corps. Women could also serve as auxiliaries.