1. US History Mrs. Housenick 11/6/12
WWI on the Homefront
US History
Mrs. Housenick
11/6/12

2. Rallying the Public
President Wilson created new office Committee on Public Information
To help raise public support for war effort
Headed by George Creel
Used rallies, parades, posters and pamphlets to persuade Americans to support war effort
PROPAGANDA EFFORT

3. Government Limits Freedoms
Espionage Act of punished people for aiding the enemy or refusing military duty
German-Americans especially targeted
Sedition Act--made it illegal for Americans to speak disloyally against the US
1000s went to jail under these laws
Challenge by Supreme Court--Schenk v. United States
Decided government can limit freedom of speech IF speech represents “clear and present danger”

4. Mobilizing for War
US military didn’t have enough men to help the Allies, even with many enlisting
1917: Selective Service Act--required men between ages of to register to be drafted into armed forces
3 million men who served drafted
Some refused to fight because of religious beliefs
African-Americans drafted, but had to serve in segregated units.

5. Women in Wartime
First war women were sent overseas to aid in war effort
Worked as interpreters, nurses and typists
Not allowed in combat, but nurses and ambulance workers worked on front lines

6. Organizing for the War Government needed to raise money and supplies
EXPANDED ITS ROLE IN THE ECONOMY!
Congress raised income taxes
Issued war bonds, called Liberty Bonds
Money from the sale of the bonds provided loans to Allies for food and supplies

7. Organizing for the War ctnd.
War Industries Board (WIB)
Created to oversee production and distribution of goods made by country’s war factories
Factories couldn’t use raw materials needed for war without WIB’s approval

8. Organizing for the War ctnd.
Federal government set prices for food and fuel--to stop inflation
Created Food Administration
Encouraged Americans to conserve food by calling for “meatless Mondays” and “wheatless Wednesdays”
Asked people to plant vegetables at home in “victory gardens”

9. Labor in the War
Need for supplies meant need for workers so wages rose and working conditions improved
Government created National War Labor Board
To settle disputes between workers and management
#1 GOAL IS TO PREVENT STRIKES!