WWI – The Homefront The Wilson administration made a concerted effort to unite the country behind the war effort The Wilson administration made a concerted effort to unite the country behind the war effort

Johnnie, get your gun, Get your gun, get your gun, Take it on the run, On the run, on the run. Hear them calling, you and me, Every son of liberty. Hurry right away, No delay, go today, Make your daddy glad To have had such a lad. Tell your sweetheart not to pine, To be proud her boy's in line.

Over there, over there, Send the word, send the word over there - That the Yanks are coming, The Yanks are coming, The drums rum-tumming Ev'rywhere. So prepare, say a pray'r, Send the word, send the word to beware. We'll be over, we're coming over, And we won't come back till it's over Over there.

Johnnie, get your gun, Get your gun, get your gun, Johnnie show the Hun Who's a son of a gun. Hoist the flag and let her fly, Yankee Doodle do or die. Pack your little kit, Show your grit, do your bit. Yankee to the ranks, From the towns and the tanks. Make your mother proud of you, And the old Red, White and Blue.

Over there, over there, Send the word, send the word over there - That the Yanks are coming, The Yanks are coming, The drums rum-tumming Ev'rywhere. So prepare, say a pray'r, Send the word, send the word to beware. We'll be over, we're coming over, And we won't come back till it's over Over there.

Propaganda Posters

WWI – The Homefront While fighting to make the world “free”, the Wilson administration limited individual freedoms at home While fighting to make the world “free”, the Wilson administration limited individual freedoms at home The Committee on Public Information (CPI) The Committee on Public Information (CPI) 1 st National propaganda agency 1 st National propaganda agency Circulated 75 million pieces of “patriotic” literature Circulated 75 million pieces of “patriotic” literature

WWI – The Homefront Sponsored films like The Kaiser – The Beast of Berlin Sponsored films like The Kaiser – The Beast of Berlin Urged citizens to report anyone “who spreads pessimistic stories, divulges – or seeks – confidential military information, cries for peace, or belittles our efforts to win the war. Show the Hun we can beat him at his own game.” Urged citizens to report anyone “who spreads pessimistic stories, divulges – or seeks – confidential military information, cries for peace, or belittles our efforts to win the war. Show the Hun we can beat him at his own game.”

WWI – The Homefront Urged 100 percent Americanism/ Anti- hyphenism Urged 100 percent Americanism/ Anti- hyphenism Popular hysteria stirred up against Germans, Socialists, Anarchists, and Pacifists Popular hysteria stirred up against Germans, Socialists, Anarchists, and Pacifists Beethoven was banned in Boston! Beethoven was banned in Boston! German measles became “Liberty measles” German measles became “Liberty measles” The teaching of German was outlawed in several states The teaching of German was outlawed in several states

The Espionage Act of 1917 See Word doc. Primary source See Word doc. Primary source “…or shall willfully obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States…” was broadly interpreted to prevent criticism of the war effort “…or shall willfully obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service of the United States…” was broadly interpreted to prevent criticism of the war effort Eugene V. Debs was given a 10 year sentence for urging people to “resist militarism, wherever found” Eugene V. Debs was given a 10 year sentence for urging people to “resist militarism, wherever found”

Schenck v. United States (1919) Court case involving a socialist (Charles Schenck) who mailed pamphlets to draftees condemning the draft and condemning the war Court case involving a socialist (Charles Schenck) who mailed pamphlets to draftees condemning the draft and condemning the war He urged the draftees to petition for the repeal of the draft (conscription) law He urged the draftees to petition for the repeal of the draft (conscription) law He was arrested for violating the Espionage Act He was arrested for violating the Espionage Act

Schenck v. United States (1919) Schenck’s lawyers argued that his 1 st Amendment freedom of speech was violated and the case was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court Schenck’s lawyers argued that his 1 st Amendment freedom of speech was violated and the case was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court The court’s ruling was unanimous and expressed by its most famous liberal, Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes The court’s ruling was unanimous and expressed by its most famous liberal, Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes

Schenck v. United States (1919) "The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent." "The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent." During time of war, Schenck’s “speech” was considered to have created a “clear and present danger” During time of war, Schenck’s “speech” was considered to have created a “clear and present danger”

The Red Scare ( ) The rising tide of socialism in the U.S. and the Russian Revolution in Europe created the climate that led to the Red Scare The rising tide of socialism in the U.S. and the Russian Revolution in Europe created the climate that led to the Red Scare The war gave the Wilson administration justification for it The war gave the Wilson administration justification for it There was a wave of labor violence after the war (wages did not keep up with inflation) There was a wave of labor violence after the war (wages did not keep up with inflation)

The Red Scare ( ) Even the Boston police went on strike in 1920 Even the Boston police went on strike in 1920 It appeared that the agitation was a socialist attempt at overthrowing the U.S. government It appeared that the agitation was a socialist attempt at overthrowing the U.S. government In late 1919, the Attorney General A. Mitchhell Palmer ordered what is known as the Palmer Raids In late 1919, the Attorney General A. Mitchhell Palmer ordered what is known as the Palmer Raids

The Red Scare ( ) Socialists, anarchists, and other political radicals were harassed, arrested, and deported Socialists, anarchists, and other political radicals were harassed, arrested, and deported Sometimes they were lawbreakers, sometimes they weren’t Sometimes they were lawbreakers, sometimes they weren’t On January 1, 1920 more than 4,000 alleged communists were arrested in a coast to coast raid in 33 cities On January 1, 1920 more than 4,000 alleged communists were arrested in a coast to coast raid in 33 cities

The Red Scare ( ) In some instances constitutional protections were denied (warrants, lawyers) In some instances constitutional protections were denied (warrants, lawyers) The country prepared for a potential attempt to overthrow the government on May 1, 1920…that never happened The country prepared for a potential attempt to overthrow the government on May 1, 1920…that never happened Eventually the scare died down as the country turned toward the 1920 presidential election Eventually the scare died down as the country turned toward the 1920 presidential election