Chapter 12 Section 3 The War At Home

Directing the Economy President Wilson realized the economy had to be reorganized. The first step would be to raise money to pay for the war President Wilson realized the economy had to be reorganized. The first step would be to raise money to pay for the war The government raised money through four issues of Liberty bonds during the war and one of Victory bonds after the end of the fighting The government raised money through four issues of Liberty bonds during the war and one of Victory bonds after the end of the fighting The government also increased taxes The government also increased taxes It established a number of federal war boards to set prices and production levels of commodities and regulated business crucial to the war effort It established a number of federal war boards to set prices and production levels of commodities and regulated business crucial to the war effort

Conserving Resources Among the most successful of the war boards was the Food Administration and the Fuel Administration. Among the most successful of the war boards was the Food Administration and the Fuel Administration. Wilson chose Herbert Hoover to head the Food Administration. He sought to encourage increased agricultural production and to conserve existing supplies Wilson chose Herbert Hoover to head the Food Administration. He sought to encourage increased agricultural production and to conserve existing supplies He guaranteed farmers high prices and encouraged American’s to plant victory gardens to supplement their diets He guaranteed farmers high prices and encouraged American’s to plant victory gardens to supplement their diets Harry Garfield, son of former president Garfield, was appointed head of the Fuel Administration. He took a similar course of action but was not opposed to using force Harry Garfield, son of former president Garfield, was appointed head of the Fuel Administration. He took a similar course of action but was not opposed to using force

Herbert Hoover

Organizing Industry War boards were also set up to regulate industry as well. War boards were also set up to regulate industry as well. The work of all these boards was coordinated by the government’s central war agency, the War Industries Board (WIB). Its director Bernard Baruch had overall responsibility for allocating scarce materials, establishing production priorities and setting prices The work of all these boards was coordinated by the government’s central war agency, the War Industries Board (WIB). Its director Bernard Baruch had overall responsibility for allocating scarce materials, establishing production priorities and setting prices At first some business leaders were critical of Wilson’s programs stating that government intervention would damage our system of free enterprise. When profits soared, however, the business leaders stopped complaining At first some business leaders were critical of Wilson’s programs stating that government intervention would damage our system of free enterprise. When profits soared, however, the business leaders stopped complaining

Mobilizing Workers Taking advantage of the U.S. being short on laborers because of the draft, unionized workers across the country went on strike. They demanded higher pay and better working conditions. It worked and because of it work conditions substantially improved throughout the war Taking advantage of the U.S. being short on laborers because of the draft, unionized workers across the country went on strike. They demanded higher pay and better working conditions. It worked and because of it work conditions substantially improved throughout the war To ensure fair treatment continued Wilson established the National War Labor Board to mediate issues between workers and employers To ensure fair treatment continued Wilson established the National War Labor Board to mediate issues between workers and employers The labor shortage also affected women as well. In all, about 1.5 million American women worked in industry during the war The labor shortage also affected women as well. In all, about 1.5 million American women worked in industry during the war

Women barbers

The Great North Trek The labor shortage also spurred immigration from Mexico. Some were fleeing the Mexican Revolution and others were lured by southwestern employers who wanted cheap labor. Either way about 150,000 men and women migrated from Mexico to the U.S. during the war The labor shortage also spurred immigration from Mexico. Some were fleeing the Mexican Revolution and others were lured by southwestern employers who wanted cheap labor. Either way about 150,000 men and women migrated from Mexico to the U.S. during the war Job opportunities and the chance for higher wages brought about one of the most important population shifts in U.S. history, The Great Migration, in which African Americans form the south moved north to escape discrimination Job opportunities and the chance for higher wages brought about one of the most important population shifts in U.S. history, The Great Migration, in which African Americans form the south moved north to escape discrimination {During this time, influenza killed 600,000 in the U.S. and 20 million world wide} {During this time, influenza killed 600,000 in the U.S. and 20 million world wide}

The Great Migration

Influencing Attitudes President Wilson wanted all Americans behind the war and therefore established the Committee on Public Information (CPI) President Wilson wanted all Americans behind the war and therefore established the Committee on Public Information (CPI) {Headed by George Creel, the CPI led a propaganda campaign to encourage Americans to support the war} {Headed by George Creel, the CPI led a propaganda campaign to encourage Americans to support the war} The CPI initially put out fact based material that presented an upbeat picture of the war. Later the CPI began creating propaganda that portrayed the Germans as evil monsters The CPI initially put out fact based material that presented an upbeat picture of the war. Later the CPI began creating propaganda that portrayed the Germans as evil monsters Groups were also hard on German Americans. German books were taken off the shelves, schools stopped teaching German, German music was no longer heard in concert halls, and German words were renamed. Sauerkraut became liberty cabbage and hamburger became Salisbury steak Groups were also hard on German Americans. German books were taken off the shelves, schools stopped teaching German, German music was no longer heard in concert halls, and German words were renamed. Sauerkraut became liberty cabbage and hamburger became Salisbury steak

Suppressing Opposition Despite everything some Americans continued to oppose the war Despite everything some Americans continued to oppose the war Quakers and Mennonites, who are extreme pacifists, were considered traitors and experienced violence and abuse for protesting the war Quakers and Mennonites, who are extreme pacifists, were considered traitors and experienced violence and abuse for protesting the war To silence the opposition of the war, Congress passed the Espionage Act in 1917 and the Sedition Act in These acts outlawed acts of treason and made it a crime to “utter, print, write or publish any disloyal or abusive language” criticizing the government, the flag, or the military To silence the opposition of the war, Congress passed the Espionage Act in 1917 and the Sedition Act in These acts outlawed acts of treason and made it a crime to “utter, print, write or publish any disloyal or abusive language” criticizing the government, the flag, or the military {Socialist Party leader, Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to 10 years in prison for making a speech against the war} {Socialist Party leader, Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to 10 years in prison for making a speech against the war} Surprisingly, the Supreme Court found that this did not violate the 1 st Amendment Surprisingly, the Supreme Court found that this did not violate the 1 st Amendment

Review Questions During what period did influenza kill 600,000 in the U.S. and 20 million world wide During what period did influenza kill 600,000 in the U.S. and 20 million world wide Headed by George Creel, the CPI led a what to encourage Americans to support the war Headed by George Creel, the CPI led a what to encourage Americans to support the war Socialist Party leader, Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to 10 years in prison for what? Socialist Party leader, Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to 10 years in prison for what?

Score 1 for the bull, and that guy totally deserves it!!