6.2 - The Home Front I - Building Up the Military Progressives controlled Congress and they applied Progressive ideas to fighting the war. A. Selective Service 1. Although many young men volunteered, many felt more soldiers would need to be drafted, which means forced into military service, also known as conscription

6.2 - The Home Front I - Building Up the Military 2. Selective Service Act Required all men between to register 2. A lottery randomly determined the order men were called before the draft board 3. Local draft boards decided on selecting or exempting people from military service 3. Eventually about 2.8 million were drafted B. Volunteers for War 1. Not all soldiers were drafted, approximately 2 million men volunteered

6.2 - The Home Front I - Building Up the Military C. African Americans in the War 1. Of the 400,000 African Americans drafted, about 42,000 served overseas as combat troops 2. African American soldiers faced discrimination as they fought in racially segregated units and always under white officers. 3. Despite these challenges, many divisions and regiments received honors for their combat.

6.2 - The Home Front II - Organizing Industry The Progressives’ emphasis on planning and scientific management shaped the government’s approach to mobilizing the American war economy Congress created special boards (committees) to ensure the most efficient use of national resources to further the war effort

6.2 - The Home Front II - Organizing Industry A. The War Industries Board 1. War Industries Board – created to coordinate production of war materials 2. Told manufacturers what to produce…etc. B. Food and Fuel 1. Food Administration run by Herbert Hoover was responsible for increasing food production while reducing civilian consumption 2. Instead of rationing, Americans were encouraged to save food on their own, plant gardens…etc.

6.2 - The Home Front II - Organizing Industry B. Food and Fuel (continued) 3. Fuel Administration tried to manage nation’s use of coal and oil 1. Daylight Savings Time was introduced

6.2 - The Home Front II - Organizing Industry C. Paying for the War 1. By the end of WWI the US was spending $44 million per day (1/2 billion in today’s $$) 2. Congress raised income tax and taxed corporate profits 3. To raise money the government borrowed over $20 billion from the American people by selling Liberty Bonds and Victory Bonds 1. Bonds were a loan and the gov’t paid back $$ with interest in a specified number of years

6.2 - The Home Front III – Mobilizing the Workforce The government established National War Labor Board to ensure cooperation of workers and prevent strikes that could disrupt war efforts Unions were recognized and gained power, causing companies to agree to increased wages, 8 hour workday…etc.

6.2 - The Home Front III – Mobilizing the Workforce A. Women Support Industry 1. Women filled industrial jobs vacated by military men in shipping, manufacturing and railroads 2. These were not permanent and women returned to their previous jobs or stopped working when the service men returned home after the war

6.2 - The Home Front III – Mobilizing the Workforce B. The Great Migration Begins 1. The war stopped the flow of immigrants to the US, which allowed African Americans wartime jobs 2. Between 300, ,000 African Americans left the south to settle in the north – this was known as “The Great Migration”

6.2 - The Home Front III – Mobilizing the Workforce C. Mexican Americans Head North 1. Many Mexicans migrated to the southwest providing farm labor 2. Many also moved north to cities to take wartime jobs in factories 3. They faced discrimination and hostility from Americans

6.2 - The Home Front IV – Ensuring Public Support Propaganda and limits on civil liberties were part of domestic life during WWI. A. Selling the War 1. The Committee on Public Information was a new government agency that attempted to “sell” the war to the American people 2. Pamphlets, posters & speeches helped deliver patriotic messages 3. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was formed to support draft dodgers and their right to object to serving in the war.

6.2 - The Home Front IV – Ensuring Public Support B. Civil Liberties Curtailed 1. Espionage – spying to acquire gov’t info 2. Espionage Act of 1917 established penalties and prison terms for anyone aiding the enemy 3. The Sedition Act of 1918 made it illegal to criticize the President or Government C. A Climate of Suspicion A. The fear of spies and emphasis on patriotism led to the mistreatment and persecution of German Americans

6.2 - The Home Front IV – Ensuring Public Support D. The Supreme Court Limits Free Speech 1. In the case of Schneck v. the US (1919), the Supreme Court limited an individual’s freedom of speech if the words spoken constituted “a clear and present danger” A. Example: Yelling “fire” in a theatre