1. Domestic Doings During the Great War Domestic Doings During the Great War Chapter 11, Sections 3-4 Notes

2. Government Intervention The federal government became heavily involved in the economy during World War I The federal government became heavily involved in the economy during World War I The U.S. economy had to shift from producing consumer goods (things that we’d like to buy) to producing war supplies (things we needed so we’d stay free) The U.S. economy had to shift from producing consumer goods (things that we’d like to buy) to producing war supplies (things we needed so we’d stay free) How does this happen? Congress gave President Wilson direct control over much of the economy How does this happen? Congress gave President Wilson direct control over much of the economy

3. Wilson’s War Economy Wilson had the right to fix prices and regulate, and in some cases nationalize, certain war-related industries Wilson had the right to fix prices and regulate, and in some cases nationalize, certain war-related industries What does it mean if something is nationalized? What does it mean if something is nationalized? Answer: It means the government controls everything about it—the government runs the company Answer: It means the government controls everything about it—the government runs the company Think about the criticism and jokes from Republicans about how President Obama is becoming a Socialist and the government is doing too much. Think about the criticism and jokes from Republicans about how President Obama is becoming a Socialist and the government is doing too much. Wilson takes things at least that far, and in most people’s minds, much farther Wilson takes things at least that far, and in most people’s minds, much farther

4. Wilson’s War Economy War Industries Board (1917, reorganized in 1918): led by businessman Bernard M. Baruch and they encouraged companies to mass-produce things to increase efficiency War Industries Board (1917, reorganized in 1918): led by businessman Bernard M. Baruch and they encouraged companies to mass-produce things to increase efficiency The WIB set production quotas and allocated a certain number of raw materials per business The WIB set production quotas and allocated a certain number of raw materials per business U.S. production increased by 20% under WIB U.S. production increased by 20% under WIB Retail prices nearly doubled in 1918 though because prices were set only at the wholesale level (where people would buy things) Retail prices nearly doubled in 1918 though because prices were set only at the wholesale level (where people would buy things) Profits soared for business under the WIB Profits soared for business under the WIB

5. Wilson’s War Economy Good News: People are making more $$...yaaay! Good News: People are making more $$...yaaay! 20% increase in blue-collar jobs during the war years 20% increase in blue-collar jobs during the war years Bad News: Food prices and housing costs went up so much that people actually had less money to spend on things…booooooooo Bad News: Food prices and housing costs went up so much that people actually had less money to spend on things…booooooooo Because of people having less $$ and businesses making more, there were many labor conflicts and unions boomed Because of people having less $$ and businesses making more, there were many labor conflicts and unions boomed Union membership went from 2.5 million in 1916 to 4 million in 1919 and more than 6,000 strikes broke out during the war months Union membership went from 2.5 million in 1916 to 4 million in 1919 and more than 6,000 strikes broke out during the war months National War Labor Board (1918): Workers who refused to obey board decisions could lose their draft exemptions and be forced into World War I…”work or fight” is what the board told them National War Labor Board (1918): Workers who refused to obey board decisions could lose their draft exemptions and be forced into World War I…”work or fight” is what the board told them Board also fought for eight-hour workday & enforced the child labor ban Board also fought for eight-hour workday & enforced the child labor ban

6. What the War Cost The U.S. spent $35.5 billion on the war The U.S. spent $35.5 billion on the war Government raised 1/3 through taxes Government raised 1/3 through taxes The last 2/3 was raised through public borrowing The last 2/3 was raised through public borrowing Gov’t issued “Liberty Loan” and “Victory Loan” bonds and Treasury Secretary played on people’s emotions by saying only “a friend of Germany” would refuse to buy the bonds Gov’t issued “Liberty Loan” and “Victory Loan” bonds and Treasury Secretary played on people’s emotions by saying only “a friend of Germany” would refuse to buy the bonds This went along with the Committee on Public Information that we talked about yesterday (CPI), whose job was to persuade people that the war was a good idea through propaganda This went along with the Committee on Public Information that we talked about yesterday (CPI), whose job was to persuade people that the war was a good idea through propaganda

7. America Loves You…as long as your American The U.S. was fighting Germans and Austro- Hungarians The U.S. was fighting Germans and Austro- Hungarians In America, those immigrants were targeted In America, those immigrants were targeted Many Americans with German names lost their jobs Many Americans with German names lost their jobs A mob in Collinsville, Illinois wrapped a German flag around a German-born miner named Robert Prager and lynched him…a jury acquitted the mob’s leader A mob in Collinsville, Illinois wrapped a German flag around a German-born miner named Robert Prager and lynched him…a jury acquitted the mob’s leader

8. What did WWI mean to… African Americans? Though there were some dissenters, most African Americans supported the war effort Though there were some dissenters, most African Americans supported the war effort The war’s greatest effect was the Great Migration The war’s greatest effect was the Great Migration The Great Migration was the large-scale movement of hundreds of thousands of Southern African Americans to the North to escape the Segregationist South The Great Migration was the large-scale movement of hundreds of thousands of Southern African Americans to the North to escape the Segregationist South

9. Great Migration Factors The migration started in the late 1800s slowly but exploded in the early 1900s The migration started in the late 1800s slowly but exploded in the early 1900s Many blacks came to escape racial discrimination Many blacks came to escape racial discrimination There were more jobs in the north, as much of the cotton crop was destroyed There were more jobs in the north, as much of the cotton crop was destroyed Also, jobs were available because there were less immigrants entering America during WWI in steel mills, munitions plants, and stockyards Also, jobs were available because there were less immigrants entering America during WWI in steel mills, munitions plants, and stockyards Henry Ford opened his assembly line to blacks as well Henry Ford opened his assembly line to blacks as well Racial prejudice still existed in the north, but not to the extent there was in the South Racial prejudice still existed in the north, but not to the extent there was in the South

10. What did WWI mean to… Women? Jobs such as railroad workers, cooks, dockworkers, bricklayers, and shipbuilders were filled by women as men were fighting in WWI Jobs such as railroad workers, cooks, dockworkers, bricklayers, and shipbuilders were filled by women as men were fighting in WWI Women still worked in traditional jobs like nurses (including volunteering at the Red Cross), clerks, and teachers Women still worked in traditional jobs like nurses (including volunteering at the Red Cross), clerks, and teachers Jane Addams founded the Women’s Peace Party in 1915 and argued against America’s entry in WWI Jane Addams founded the Women’s Peace Party in 1915 and argued against America’s entry in WWI “The services of women during the supreme crisis have been of the most signal usefulness and distinction…part of our debt should be acknowledged.” –President Wilson “The services of women during the supreme crisis have been of the most signal usefulness and distinction…part of our debt should be acknowledged.” –President Wilson This did not lead to equal pay for equal work but did lead to more support for women’s suffrage This did not lead to equal pay for equal work but did lead to more support for women’s suffrage Women earned the right to vote through the 19 th amendment in 1919 (it was ratified by the states in 1920) Women earned the right to vote through the 19 th amendment in 1919 (it was ratified by the states in 1920)

11. What did WWI mean to… The Flu? Okay, my intro doesn’t work anymore but… Okay, my intro doesn’t work anymore but… The flu epidemic began in the fall of 1918 The flu epidemic began in the fall of 1918 About ¼ of the U.S. population was affected About ¼ of the U.S. population was affected Results: mines shut down, phone service was cut in half, factories and offices staggered working hours to avoid spreading the flu Results: mines shut down, phone service was cut in half, factories and offices staggered working hours to avoid spreading the flu Doctors didn’t know what to do; they recommended cleanliness and quarantine Doctors didn’t know what to do; they recommended cleanliness and quarantine New York City street cleaners wore masks New York City street cleaners wore masks People were healthy  a few days later: dead People were healthy  a few days later: dead Things got so bad cities ran out of coffins Things got so bad cities ran out of coffins More than ¼ of soldiers caught the flu; in some AEF units, 1/3 of the troops died…500,000 U.S. soldiers died and about 30 million people worldwide died from the flu More than ¼ of soldiers caught the flu; in some AEF units, 1/3 of the troops died…500,000 U.S. soldiers died and about 30 million people worldwide died from the flu

12. What did WWI mean to… President Woodrow Wilson? Wilson saw the end of WWI as an opportunity to bring the world back together peacefully Wilson saw the end of WWI as an opportunity to bring the world back together peacefully European leaders saw WWI as a chance to punish Germany European leaders saw WWI as a chance to punish Germany Wilson issued his Fourteen Points speech before Congress Wilson issued his Fourteen Points speech before Congress The speech addressed 3 categories: The speech addressed 3 categories: Issues to avoid another war Issues to avoid another war Boundary changes to allow ethnic identities to form their own countries or decide where they should belong Boundary changes to allow ethnic identities to form their own countries or decide where they should belong The formation of the League of Nations to allow countries a place to discuss and settle their grievances without war The formation of the League of Nations to allow countries a place to discuss and settle their grievances without war The Allies rejected Wilson’s plan and instead created and signed the Treaty of Versailles The Allies rejected Wilson’s plan and instead created and signed the Treaty of Versailles Even though the League of Nations was Wilson’s idea, the U.S. never became a member of the League, and signed a separate treaty with Germany in 1921 when Wilson was no longer president Even though the League of Nations was Wilson’s idea, the U.S. never became a member of the League, and signed a separate treaty with Germany in 1921 when Wilson was no longer president