WWI on the American Home Front

How were Americans working at home in order to support the war effort?

1. WWI Chapter 12.4 Americans on the Home Front

2. Notes (#23)==Answer the 3 Qs on the top of p. 432 What steps did the government take to finance the war & manage the economy? How did the government enforce loyalty to the war effort? How did the war change the lives of Americans on the home front? *Lists or bullet points are fine*

3. President Wilson “There are no armies…; there are entire nations armed.”

4. Financing the War Liberty Bonds Redeemed for original value + interest Boy and Girl Scouts sold them to public “Every Scout to Save a Soldier” 75,000 “Four-Minute Men” Artists and actors also helped sell bonds Paid for ¼ of U.S. war costs; $20 billion+ “Buy Bonds Till It Hurts” “The Soldier Gives—You Must Lend”

5. Managing the Economy Industry s witched from commercial to war goods “Dollar-a-year” men Business men moved to Washington, DC to head up new gov’t agencies War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch Handed out raw materials, told what and how much to produce, and how much to sell them for (fixed prices)

6. Managing the Economy National War Labor Board, led by Taft (former President) Unions gain some rights Un -patriotic to protest/strike/miss work Samuel Gompers promised to limit strikes/labor unrest

7. Managing the War Lever Food and Fuel Control Act – August, 1917 President manages production and distribution of food and fuels necessary for war effort Increased farm output, price controls on food, and rationing – Herbert Hoover (future President) “Food will win the war” “Gospel of the Clean Plate,” see quote on p . 434 Daylight Savings Time – more sunlight during the day for work and less fuel used Increased production during summer/fall Still have this today, should we?

8. Herbert Hoover Head of the Food Administration during WWI President from 1929 to 1933

9. Enforcing Loyalty Government censorship on press and banning of publications from mail Committee on Public Information George Creel (former muckraker) Rally support for war Films, pamphlets, posters

10. Enforcing Loyalty Fear of spies/espionage Might undermine the war efforts National Security League preached “100% Americanism” Non-profit, non-partisan group Nativists Fear of Foreigners Literacy tests for immigrants German hate “Salisbury steak” & “police dogs” Espionage and Sedition Acts (1917 & 1918) Broke 1 st amendment rights Over 1000 convictions, including Eugene Debs

11. Enforcing Loyalty Gov’t esp. cracked down on “radicals” Socialists, communists, anarchists The IWW or “ Wobblies ” Early stages of the “Red Scare” * more on this later*

12. Changing People’s Lives After the War Stalled flow of immigrants from Europe Business needed workers – African Americans & Mexican Americans & Women 400K women in industrial work during WWI African American “Great Migration” to North during war 500K moved from South (mostly rural) to North ( mostly urban)

13. Notes (#23)==Answer the 3 Qs on the top of p. 432 What steps did the government take to finance the war & manage the economy? How did the government enforce loyalty to the war effort? How did the war change the lives of Americans on the home front? *Lists or bullet points are fine*