S

War on the

Home Front

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

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

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

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

As a result

American food shipments tripled!! (For allies)

Farmers income increased significantly!

Victory Gardens

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.

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

ANTI-IMMIGRANT HYSTERIA

Attacks against Americans born in Germany and German descendents Lost jobs Banned music Physical violence Changed names of things

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

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

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!

Influenza

1918 from France by Chinese war workers

¼ of U.S. population fell ill High fever,

headaches, aching muscles, pneumonia

500,000 die