1. The Home Front

2. US Economy in WWI War Industries Board (WIB) Produced war materials
Food Administration
Conserve food, rationing
Victory gardens
Families grew own veggies, “Meatless Tuesdays”
Saved resources like coal and oil
Raised income tax
Liberty bonds - $20 billion

3. Shaping Public Opinion
Committee on Public Information (CPI) publishes propaganda to “sell” the war
Arranged speeches to be given at movie theaters and public events
Limited right to against the war
Espionage Act of 1917
Made it illegal to aid the enemy, give false reports, or interfere with the war effort
Sedition Act of 1917
Made it illegal to speak against the war
National security

4. Schenck v US
1917 Charles Schenck mailed pamphlets criticizing the draft
Convicted of violating the Espionage Act
Supreme Court ruled the gov’t has the authority to limit free speech in certain situations

5. The Workforce
To prevent strikes, the gov’t established the National War Labor Board (NWLB)
Pressured industry to improve wages ,adopt 8hr work day and allow unions the right to organize and bargain
Labor leaders agreed not to disrupt war production with strikes
Union membership increased by 1 million

6. The War’s Impact on the US

7. An Economy in Turmoil Soldiers welcomed home – 2 million needed jobs
1919 – recession
Businesses raised prices that they were forced to keep low during the war
Inflation rose prices over 15%, increases cost of living
Inflation leads to strikes
Companies forced to raise wages during the war Inflation causes increased operating costs , businesses have to cut wages
By the end of 1919, more that 3600 strikes involving more than 4 million workers

8. Racial Unrest
Great migration – thousands of African Americans move north for job opportunities (mostly factory jobs)
Returning soldiers couldn’t get jobs
Some whites blamed African American’s
Racism produced violence
Race riots broke out across the nation
Burned businesses & homes of African Amer.
Chicago race riot lasted for 2 weeks
National Guard brought in
38 died
NAACP increased in membership
Fight for rights against discrimination

9. The Red Scare Russia becomes Communist after WWI
Relationship with Russia is declining
Fear of conspiracy in the US
Strikes of 1919 fueled that the “reds” might seize power
Strikes may start a revolution
Nationwide panic = Red Scare
Palmer Raids
Series of raids on the Department of Justice
Led by A. Mitchell Palmer
Intended to capture, arrest and deport anarchists and communists

10. The Election of 1920
Economic problems, labor unrest ,and racial tensions created a divided US
“Return to normalcy” – Warren G Harding
Harding becomes President and appeals to the American people Build a more prosperous and stable society