Would you be able to help the U.S. succeed in World War I?

You represent the government of the United States. It is 1917 and the U.S. is officially joining WWI. It is your job to manage the home front and ensure that the U.S. is successful.

First, to fight a war you need soldiers. Will you… Ask for volunteers to join the military Use a draft to require people to serve in the military Use advertisements and propaganda to encourage people to enlist

If you chose A… After the start of the war, the U.S. only had about 200,000 soldiers in the army. After asking for volunteers, only 73,000 people enlisted out of the initial 1 million the U.S. was aiming for. 0 points

If you chose B… In May, 1917, the U.S. passed the Selective Draft Act. By the end of 1918, 24 million men were registered for draft and nearly 3 million were conscripted into the military. Thanks to a huge campaign by the government to build support for the war, there was little resistance to the draft. 2 points

If you chose C… Even with its late entry into the war, the United States produced more recruitment posters than any other country. Through widespread use of posters and propaganda, the U.S. was able to increase popular support for the war. However, this was not as successful at increasing troop numbers as the draft. 1 point

Next, you will need nurses and medical professionals Next, you will need nurses and medical professionals. At this time, there are 403 nurses in the Army Nurse Corps and 170 in the reserves. Will you… Use the 403 nurses in the Army Nurse Corps Use the 403 nurses in the Army Nurse Corps AND the 170 nurses in the reserves Use the 403 nurses in the Army Nurse Corps AND the 170 nurses in the reserves AND recruit more nurses

Nurses galore! Over 22,000 professionally trained female nurses were recruited by the American Red Cross to serve in the U.S. Army between 1917 and 1919. 0 points 1 point 2 points

Wars are EXPENSIVE and you need money to fund the war effort Wars are EXPENSIVE and you need money to fund the war effort. Which method will you use to raise the MOST money? Borrowing from the public (war bonds) Taxes Printing more money

A. 2 points B. 1 point C. 0 points About 58% of the money the U.S. spent on the war came from borrowing from the public (war bonds), about 22% came from taxes, and about 20% came from money creation. A. 2 points B. 1 point C. 0 points

In 1917, the U. S. was making about $3. 4 billion per year In 1917, the U.S. was making about $3.4 billion per year. How much money do you plan to spend on the war?

The total cost of World War I to the United States was approximately $32 billion! It is the fifth most expensive war in U.S. history. <$25 billion: 0 points (Uh-oh! You did not spend enough money to fund the war effort!) $25 – 50 billion: 2 points (It was a lot of money, but you did what you had to!) >$50 billion: 1 point (Come on now, that’s just excessive.)

War not only requires money, it requires weapons and supplies War not only requires money, it requires weapons and supplies. Will you… Purchase additional weapons and supplies from U.S. allies, like France and Britain. Reorganize U.S. factories and industries to begin producing ammunitions, weapons, and fuel for the war. Spend less time and money on weapons research, and focus instead on producing lots of weapons (even if they are a little out of date) .

If you chose A… By the time the U.S. joined World War I, France and Britain had already been fighting for three years and were running low on supplies themselves.  0 points

If you chose B… Entry into the war in 1917 unleashed a huge transition in national production from civilian to war goods. To create order, President Wilson established the War Industries Board (WIB) to increase industrial output and coordinate industries. Women's blouse factories made signal flags, radiator manufacturers made guns, automobile factories made airplane engines, and piano companies made airplane wings. 2 points

If you chose C… World War I is infamous for its advancements in weaponry. Technological developments in engineering, metallurgy, and chemistry produced weapons deadlier than anything known before and no country could afford to be left behind in the field of weapons advancement. 1 point

WWI VIDEO - Weapons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25rFl1SoycA

There is a shortage of labor. Will you… Increase immigration into the U.S. to boost the work force Encourage women and African Americans to serve in factories and other wartime industries Increase labor hours and work days to make sure workers keep up with wartime production needs

If you chose A… The war largely cut off immigration, especially from Europe, and therefore reduced the pool of available cheap labor in the U.S. American factories were unable to meet the demands of wartime production with immigrants. 0 points

If you chose B… Businesses increasingly looked to women and African Americans to fill the void in the workforce. Munitions factories becoming the largest single employer of women during 1918. In addition, the prospect of higher wages and improved working conditions prompted thousands of African American southerners to abandon their agricultural lives and start anew in industrial cities. 2 points

If you chose C… By this time, the Progressive movement and other labor reform movements had already begun. American workers were demanding a recognized standard of 8-hour work days and increasing work days would not have been a sustainable strategy. 1 point

WWI VIDEO - Women https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMlpd1-_KVc

What percent of U.S. industrial production will you dedicate to the war? Less than 50% 50% Over 50%

The U.S. dedicated 52% of its gross national product at the time to the war effort. (GNP is the total value of goods and services produced by a country) A. 0 points B. 1 point C. 2 points

When the U.S. joined the war, American food production became a top priority. How would you address this issue? Use gardens to grow more food in the U.S. so that items like wheat and meat can be sent to soldiers Send high-nutrition foods to soldiers, like fruits and vegetables, so that they can eat less while still maintaining a healthy diet Get more local food from allies in Europe to supply U.S. troops

If you chose A… During the war, many women planted “victory gardens” that produced extra fruits and vegetables for their families so that other food items, like wheat and meat, could be sent to soldiers overseas. In fact, gross farm income increased more than 230% from 1914 to 1919. 2 points

If you chose B… Even if food is high in nutrients, soldiers need a minimum of about 3,574 calories a day, so wartime is not the time to cut calories.  Slogans such as “Food will win the war” compelled people to eat a multitude of fresh fruits and vegetables, which were too difficult to transport overseas (especially due to German blockades). 0 points

If you chose C… Although America and its allies did share food and supplies, people in France, Britain, and Italy, along with their armies, were facing starvation and could not be expected to supply American troops.  1 point

WWI VIDEO – Victory Gardens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr6KbOL4n9Q

Count up your score! If you had 14-16 points… Congratulations! You did a FANTASTIC job of mobilizing the American home front and it looks like the U.S. is going to come out of the war all right!

Count up your score! If you had 10-13 points… Hmm…You had some good ideas, but you might want to rethink a few of your home front strategies.

Count up your score! If you had <10 points… Don’t quit your day job. It looks like managing the home front is not for you. Maybe you could try growing a victory garden instead.

Time to reflect… Name at least four ways that Americans on the home front contributed to the war effort in WWI. How did WWI impact American society?

World War I Propaganda Propaganda – ideas or beliefs that are intentionally aimed to persuade the population Why was it used? To influence an audience towards a cause, position or agenda To create a common bond within the community To evoke a common sentiment or feeling