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World War I

Explore the challenges faced by the United States in mobilizing for World War I, including the decision to implement conscription, the impact on the economy, and the efforts to shape public opinion. Discover how these factors played a crucial role in the country's war efforts.

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World War I

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  1. World War I The War at Home

  2. Mobilizing for War • Manpower • The Economy • Public Opinion

  3. Manpower • Wilson chooses Conscription • Based in part on the experience of Great Britain • At outset of war, GB was only nation to use an all-volunteer force • Early casualties virtually destroyed professional Br. Army • Rush of volunteers created havoc in war industries • As casualties mounted, volunteers were not enough

  4. Manpopwer • Wilson chooses Conscription • Reluctance to use volunteers also based on US history & political situation. • Performance of volunteer units in both the War Between the States and Spanish-American War was uneven at best (especially with volunteer leaders) • Roosevelt, an outspoken critic of Wilson: he wanted to raise (and lead) a volunteer division • At best, Roosevelt was an enthusiastic amateur who would have been a disaster in command of a 28,000 man division • Publicity and hoopla was sure to disrupt other mobilization efforts

  5. Manpower • Wilson chooses Conscription • Selective Service Act of 1917 • Was a deft political move • Removed the Army (& all direct agents of the federal government from the thankless task of selecting men for service • Placed responsibility in local, civilian boards • Result was a system tuned to local • Occupational needs • Personal problems • Community attitudes

  6. Manpower • Selecting Draft Numbers

  7. Mobilizing the Economy • Modern Warfare & the Economy • “Twentieth century warfare demands that the blood of the soldier must be mingled with from three to five parts of the sweat of the man in the factories, mills, mines, and fields of the nation in arms.” Howard Coffin

  8. Economy

  9. Economy • Mobilizing the Economy • A modern army required unprecedented quantities of: • Food • Clothes • Transportation • Weapons • Munitions

  10. Economy • Peacetime Economic Tasks • Serve domestic consumption • Serve domestic investment needs • Serve foreign consumers

  11. Economy • Economic Tasks while neutral • Serve domestic consumption & investment needs • Serve foreign consumers • Maintain English and French civilian economies • Supply Allied armies

  12. Economy • Wartime Economic Tasks • Serve domestic consumption & investment needs • Serve foreign consumers • Maintain English and French civilian economies • Supply Allied armies • Supply U.S. army

  13. Economy • The Supply Problem • Troops in combat use supplies at an incredible rate • A division could, in one minute, fire • 120,000 rounds of rifle ammo • 14,000 machinegun rounds • 1,000 cannon shells • In 1916 at the Battle of the Somme, the British fired 3,000,000 artillery shells in just over a week

  14. Economy • Mobilizing the Economy • Planning for Shortfalls • Outputs: • Inputs: • Raw Materials • Skilled Labor • Production Technology • Production Capacity

  15. Economy • US Railroad Administration (1917) • Took direct government control of key functions and facilities • Did what the railroads could not do separately • Consolidated terminal facilities • Coordinated traffic and routing • Used federal money to improve equipment • Satisfied Unions w/ generous wage settlements

  16. Mobilizing Public Opinion • Two quite different, but complimentary tasks: • Win public support for the war effort • Legally muzzle anti-war dissent

  17. Public Opinion • CPI Themes • America as a unified moral community • The war as an idealistic crusade for peace and freedom • The image of a despicable enemy

  18. Public Opinion

  19. Public Opinion

  20. Public Opinion • FILM AS PROPAGANDA • “The Rape of Belgium”

  21. Public Opinion • Muzzling Dissent • Espionage Act of 1917 • Severe penalties for any found guilty of • aiding the enemy • obstructing recruitment • causing insubordination in Armed Forces • Empowered postmaster to deny delivery of newspapers and magazines he judged to be treasonous • To enforce act, government had to increase overall police and surveillance machinery

  22. Public Opinion • Muzzling Dissent • Sedition Act of 1918 • A modification and extension of the Espionage Act of 1917 • Outlawed any “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language intended to cause contempt, scorn, contumely, or disrepute” to the Constitution, Flag or government

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