World War I on The Home Front Life in the United States during WWI
How did the war affect Americans at home? For the first time, the government played a major role in Americans’ daily lives, taking on new powers to regulate industry, draft soldiers, and shape public opinion. The war required sacrifice, but it also brought new opportunities.
How to Pay for a War Liberty Bonds- a sort of loan to the government People bought them in exchange for payment in the future How to Pay for a War
Government Actions to Pay War Revenue Act of 1917- established higher taxes and increased taxes for wealthy Borrowed Money- National Debt went from $1.2 billion to $25.5 billion Government Actions to Pay
$ The federal government took control of the wartime economy. The Council of National Defense created federal agencies to oversee food production, fuel distribution, and railroads. $ Bernard Baruch headed the War Industries Board (WIB), which regulated war-related businesses. The Food Administration, led by Herbert Hoover, set prices for agricultural products. 5
Take Advantage of the Sun Government passed the Standard Time Act Effort to save fuel Extend working time for production Promoted “Gasless Sundays” and “Heatless Mondays” Video Take Advantage of the Sun
Banned the “manufacture, sale or transportation” of alcohol in the U.S. Why would this be beneficial to the war effort? Most alcohols made with grapes and wheat– save for the troops The 18th Amendment
Do Your Part President Hoover and the Government asked Americans to: Plant “Victory Gardens” Have “Meatless Mondays” and “Wheatless Wednesdays” Why would the government do this? Would you do this if your government asked you to during a war? Do Your Part
The War Industries Board encouraged factories to increase output. Similarly, the Food Administration encouraged farmers to produce more food. Women entered the workforce to help the war effort. 10
Women & the War Filled the open jobs that men had before war Worked all sorts of jobs- factories, farms, railroads, docks Built ships and airplanes Women & the War
Left-Woman Traffic Cop Above- Female Auto Mechanics
Female Farmers
About 1 million women joined the workforce during WWI After the war, many of them were forced to leave by employers to give jobs back to men Video Women in the Workforce