On the Home Front Angela Brown Chapter 10 Section 4 1

Learning Targets: Explain how the government financed the war and managed the wartime economy. Describe how efforts to enforce loyalty led to hostility and repression. Describe how the lives of Americans on the home front changed during the war. 2

Financing the War Liberty bonds – special bonds sold to support the Allied cause Could be redeemed for the original value of the bonds plus interest = $20 billion Allowed U.S. to loan more than $10 billion to the allies. 3

Boy and Girl scouts set up booths on street corners to sell bonds. Popular commercial artists drew colorful posters/recruited famous screen actors to host bond rallies/ speeches before movies, plays, school/ union meetings. 4

Managing the Economy Government called on industry to convert to the production of war goods. Business leaders flocked to Washington to take up posts in thousands of new agencies. “dollar-a-year” men and women because they gave their service for a token salary. 5

New Agencies War Industries Board – oversaw war- related production – told manufacturers what and how much to produce, and even fixed prices War Trade Board – licensed foreign trade and punished firs suspected of dealing with the enemy 6

National War Labor Board – worked to settle labor disputes that might hinder the war effort War Labor Policies Board – set standard and wages, hours, and working conditions in war industries Labor unions won limited rights to organize and bargain collectively. 7

Regulating Food and Fuel Consumption 1917 Lever Food and Fuel Control Act – gave the president the power to manage the production and distribution of food and fuels vital to the war effort. Lead by Herbert Hoover – increased agricultural output and reduce waste. Had power to impose price controls – a system of pricing determined by the government on food. 8

Could have begun system of rationing – distributing goods to consumers in a fixed amount Hoover preferred voluntary restraint Appealed to women to stop throwing away food, no second helpings, no eating between meals, one meatless- one wheatless day a week and no butter. 9

Fuel Administration – sponsored gasless days to save fuel Daylight Savings Time- began practice of turning clocks ahead one hour for the summer. (increased # of daylight hours for activity) Lessened need for artificial light -= lowered fuel consumption. 10

A Progressive Victory Government now regulated American economic life to an extent progressives never dreamed possible. Regulations had not lessened the power of the corporate world – dismayed progressives Influence of business leaders grew, the government relaxed its pursuit of anti-trust suits, and corporate profits tripled. 11

Enforcing Loyalty Government imposed censorship on the press and banned some publications from the mail. Committee on Public Information – George Creel – 1917 – Job to rally support for the war – produced short films, pamphlets explaining aims and posters selling recruitment and liberty bonds. 12

Fear of Foreigners Fear of espionage – spying German staff member – left briefcase on U.S. train – plans for weakening pro-allied sentiment and disrupting U.S. economy. Government feared secret agents might destroy transportation or communications networks. 13

Generated calls for restriction on immigration. National Security League – preached “100% Americanism” Got Congress to override Presidential veto for literacy test for immigrants. Excluded those who could not read English or some other language – few immigrants failed. 14

“Hate the Hun!” Hostility toward Germans – Huns – referencing Asiatic people who brutality invaded Europe in the 4th and 5th century German composers/musicians banned from symphony concerts German Measles = Liberty Measles 15

Hamburger = Liberty Sandwiche 16

Lynched Robert Prager 1918 near St. Louis German born; had tried to enlist in the Navy. One of numerous attacks on Germans in U.S. 17

Repression of Civil Liberties 1917 Congress passed – Espionage Act – made it illegal to interfere with draft Sedition – is speech of acting that encourages rebellion Amended 1918 the Sedition Act – illegal to obstruct the sale of liberty bonds or discuss anything “disloyal, profane, scurrilous or abusive” about the U.S. form of government – Constitution, Army or Navy 18

Pursued 1500 prosecutions = 1000 convictions Eugene Debs, socialist – ten year jail sentence for criticizing government/business and urging “resist militarism” 19

Controlling Political Radicals Socialist argued war a quarrel among imperialist capitalist (IWW) Organization Industrial Workers of the World – gained supporters – goal overthrowing capitalism Police hounded IWW – Raids in 1917 – let to 200 convictions Vigilantes – citizens who take the law into their own hands – lynched and horsewhipped others 20

Social Mobility for Minorities and Women Americans turned away from military styles and activities after the war War cut off immigrants from Europe and took young men out of workplace – businesses needed workers 21

Couldn’t discriminate – used who they could get Great Migration – 500,000 African Americans flooded North to industries. 400,000 women joined the industrial workforce. 22

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Prohibition Finally Passes th Amendment – illegal to manufacture, sell, or transport alcoholic beverages in U.S. Backed 18 Amendments to show patriotism during the war – conserve grain for bread 1919 states ratified 18th Amendment. 24