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
Top Related