The Home Front Chapter 18 Section 3 The First World War Riddlebarger
Mobilizing the Economy Going to war is a huge undertaking War is expensive War Revenue Act raises taxes Liberty Bonds are sold ( you essentially loan $ to the government) $20 billion raised National debt grows from $1.2 billion to $25.5 billion
Regulating industry To ensure troops get needed supplies, government will regulate (control) industrial and agricultural production and distribution. War Industries Board (WIB): No steel, copper, cement, rubber or other basic materials could be used without our approval. American industrial production increased 20% during the war Once military needs are met, remaining goods could be used by civilians
Regulating Food Lever Food and Fuel Control Act is to make sure troops have plenty of food and supplies Government sets prices and production controls for food and fuels needed to run military machines. Herbert Hoover runs Food Administration: Food Can Win the War Higher prices for farm goods Americans asked to plant vegetable gardens: Victory Gardens Contributes to huge food surplus during war
18th Amendment Alcohol made food crops so many want limits to have more for food usage Some Progressives link beer to Germans 1919 amendment passed bans manufacture, sale or transport of alcohol in US
Regulating Fuel Government sets up department to regulate fuel production and prices To ensure military needs are met daylight saving time introduced to help with fuel consumption
Supplying US & Allied Troops US became the major supplier for all Allied troops during this war The power of US manufacturing and farming is a much-needed boost for the struggling Allies And the American economy
How did the Wilson administration change the U.S. economy for the war effort?
Mobilizing Workers During war, profits skyrocket for American companies Sale of war goods to government While worker wages rise, it is offset by rising costs of goods War demands longer hours & sometimes more dangerous conditions Faster pace of production Leads to increased number of workers joining unions 60% increase, 1916-19 6,000 strikes during war
National War Labor Board Massive industrial production was essential for the war effort To keep labor disputes at a minimum, the Wilson administration created the NWLB in 1918 to judge disputes between labor and management. Also set policies attempting to improve work conditions 8 hour workday Urged recognition of unions Promoted equal pay for equal work (women)
Women s War Efforts Women fill needed roles in factories as men go off to fight war Many were traditional male jobs Railroads, docks, factories Around 1 million women enter workforce during WW1 After war many leave jobs others are forced out Suffrage advocates use women s contributions to further case for voting rights
Influenza Epidemic War effort hurt by extremely severe flu epidemic between 1918-19 Very severe in Europe on the war front Nearly half of US lives lost in WW1 were from flu Will be a problem at home, in the US, too 200,000 died in October of 1918 alone 675,000 die here by the time it passes; deadliest epidemic in U.S. history
Influencing Public Opinion It is not an army that we must shape for war...it is a nation. -President Wilson
Winning American Support Many Americans had been in favor of neutrality before the war 2 weeks after declaration, Wilson creates Committee on Public Information (CPI) Campaign of propaganda- posters, newspaper stories, speeches and other materials designed to influence people s opinions Encourage support for the war Artists hired to create posters
Anti-German sentiments grow With growing patriotism and support for war, anti-german feelings swell Some schools stop teaching German as foreign language (Ohio banned schools from doing so) Re-naming of German sounding items: Sauerkraut = freedom cabbage Hamburger= liberty sandwich German sabotage campaign makes some question loyalty of German-Americans Discrimination and violence
Limiting Free Speech Espionage Act (1917)- illegal to aid enemy or refuse military duty Sedition Act (1918)- illegal to utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal..or abusive language criticizing the government, the flag or the military. Thousands jailed under these laws Violation of First Amendment? Or, vital for war effort? Charles Schenck arrested for handing out anti-war pamphlets & appeals conviction on ground it his free speech rights are violated Schenck v. United States Supreme Court rules that (free) speech rights can be limited during war; Clear and Present Danger