War on the Home Front

1. War on the Home Front

2. In America at this point… • African Americans moving from one place to another • Women filling positions of men • “War is no longer Samson with his shield and spear and sword, and David with his sling. It is the conflict of smokestacks now, the combat of the driving wheel and the engine” – Secretary of War Newton Baker

3. War Industries Board • EST. 1917 and encouraged… • Mass-production techniques • Standardizing • Set Quotas • Production increases 20% under board • Retail prices soared Steel Industry War Board

4. Side Effects • Women’s clothing changes • Leather shoes almost disappear • “Gasless Sundays”, “Lightless nights” • To help conserve fuel • Daylight savings time introduced • To take advantage of the longer days of summer

5. War Economy • Wages rose for some but inflation hurt others • National War Labor Board • Created to deal with disputes between management and labor • “Work or fight” • Tried to improve working conditions, 8 hour days, safety inspections. • Food Administration • Herbert Hoover – leader • Staff of volunteers • Not focused on rationing food

6. As a result • American food shipments tripled!! (For allies) • Farmers income increased significantly! • Victory Gardens

7. Committee on Public Information • Started by George Creel • Mobilized people to create posters, paintings, cartoons to promote war! • “4 minute men” – sent to give pep talks about war • Helped popularize the war. • Distributed booklets, pamphlets, leaflets in all different languages.

8. Financing the War • “It is not an army we must shape and train for war, it is a nation” – Wilson • Steeper income tax • Taxing high incomes at a higher rate than low\ • Higher excise tax • On Tobacco, liquor, luxury goods • Bonds • Liberty bonds • Subscribing to bonds was patriotic

9. ANTI-IMMIGRANT HYSTERIA • Attacks against Americans born in Germany and German descendents • Lost jobs • Banned music • Physical violence • Changed names of things

10. Espionage (1917) & Sedition (1918) Act • Person can be fined for… • Interfering with the draft • Hindering the sale of bonds • Saying disloyal, disrespectful or offensive things about the government or war effort • Targeted socialists/labor leaders • 6,000 arrests • 1,500 conviction

11. Social Changes-African Americans • Most African American’s backed the war • The Great Migration • Movement of hundreds/thousands of blacks from Southern cities to Northern. • Factors of GM: • Escape discrimination • Ruined cotton fields • Ford opened line to blacks • WWI increased job opportunities in North • Many blacks able to establish themselves

12. Social Changes - Women • Filled jobs that had been held by men • Driving cabs/trucks, railroad workers, bricklayers, cooks, miners, shipbuilding • Filled traditional roles/ volunteer work • Nurses, clerks and teachers • Red Cross, victory gardens, selling bonds • Peace Movement • 1919- Nineteenth Amendment passed!

13. Influenza • 1918 from France by Chinese war workers • ¼ of U.S. population fell ill • High fever, headaches, aching muscles, pneumonia • 500,000 die