The Home Front 16-2

Recall: What sort of political movements were taking place in the United States prior to WWI?Recall: What sort of political movements were taking place in the United States prior to WWI?

The Home Front Progressive ideas instituted to manage the economy and pay for war Progressive ideas instituted to manage the economy and pay for war

Wartime Agencies War Industries Board —coordinate production of war materials War Industries Board —coordinate production of war materials Told manufacturers what they could produce, allocated raw materials, ordered construction of new factories, and (sometimes) set pricesTold manufacturers what they could produce, allocated raw materials, ordered construction of new factories, and (sometimes) set prices

Wartime Agencies Food Administration —increasing food production, decreasing civilian consumption Food Administration —increasing food production, decreasing civilian consumption Run by Herbert HooverRun by Herbert Hoover Victory gardens Victory gardens Wheatless Mon, Meatless Tues, Porkless ThursWheatless Mon, Meatless Tues, Porkless Thurs

Wartime Agencies Fuel Administration —manage coal/oil Fuel Administration —manage coal/oil Harry GarfieldHarry Garfield Daylight savings timeDaylight savings time Shortened workweek for factories that didn’t make war materialsShortened workweek for factories that didn’t make war materials Heatless MonHeatless Mon

Paying for the war $32 billion spent on war$32 billion spent on war Income taxes raisedIncome taxes raised Corporate profit taxes raisedCorporate profit taxes raised Extra tax on arms factoriesExtra tax on arms factories Borrowed over $20 billion from publicBorrowed over $20 billion from public Liberty/Victory BondsLiberty/Victory Bonds

Mobilizing the Workforce National War Labor Board —prevent strikes National War Labor Board —prevent strikes Urged improved wagesUrged improved wages 8 hr workday8 hr workday Unions/collective bargainingUnions/collective bargaining WomenWomen More/higher paying jobsMore/higher paying jobs Factories, shipyards, railroad yards, police, mail carriers, train engineersFactories, shipyards, railroad yards, police, mail carriers, train engineers

Workforce African AmericansAfrican Americans “Great Migration”“Great Migration” 300, ,000 move north300, ,000 move north MexicansMexicans Move northMove north 100,000 move to the Southwest (labor for farms/ranches)100,000 move to the Southwest (labor for farms/ranches)

Public Opinion Committee on Public Information —”sell” the war Committee on Public Information —”sell” the war Journalists, advertising executives, artists, authors, songwriters, entertainersJournalists, advertising executives, artists, authors, songwriters, entertainers Pamphlets, “four-minute speeches” (movies/ public)Pamphlets, “four-minute speeches” (movies/ public)

Civil Liberties Espionage Act of 1917 —illegal to aid enemy, false reports, interfere w/ war effort Espionage Act of 1917 —illegal to aid enemy, false reports, interfere w/ war effort Sedition Act of 1918 —illegal to speak against the war publically (basically, illegal to criticize gov’t)  + 1,000 convictions Sedition Act of 1918 —illegal to speak against the war publically (basically, illegal to criticize gov’t)  + 1,000 convictions German Americans, labor activists, socialists, pacifistsGerman Americans, labor activists, socialists, pacifists Am Protective League, Boy Spies of America  spy on neighbors/coworkersAm Protective League, Boy Spies of America  spy on neighbors/coworkers

Unconstitutional? First Amendment— “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press”First Amendment— “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press” Court: gov’t could restrict if “clear & present danger”Court: gov’t could restrict if “clear & present danger” “Fire!” in a crowded building“Fire!” in a crowded building