1. 11.3: The War at Home
Main Idea: The war unleashed disruptions in American society as the government tried to meet the demands of modern warfare.
American armored troops going forward in the Argonne, France, September 26, 1918

2. Political Consequences: Government Power Increased
War Industries Board regulated industries and allocated resources
Fuel Administration rationed fuel and established daylight-saving time
Food Administration encouraged food conservation and “victory gardens”
National War Labor Board monitored working conditions and labor disputes
Committee on Public Information used propaganda to increase support for the war

4. Political Consequences: Attacks on Civil Liberties
Discrimination against German-Americans
Espionage and Sedition Acts, 1917 made it a crime to criticize the government or the war effort
Violated the 1st amendment
Targeted socialists, labor leaders and pacifists, people who believe all war is evil
Schenck v. U.S., 1919: protesting the draft during wartime created a “clear and present danger” and is not protected by the 1st amendment

6. Economic Consequences
Corporate profits increased; the U.S. later became the world’s greatest industrial power
Wages increased but could not keep up with inflation
Membership in labor unions increased
Business and government collaborated to shift production from consumer goods to war materials
Taxes were raised
War bonds were sold

7. Shipyard workers were exempt from the draft
Shipyard workers were exempt from the draft. Workers who did not cooperate with the War Labor Board were told to “work or fight”.

8. Social Consequences for African-Americans
Leading African-Americans disagreed about supporting the war
W. E. B. DuBois supported the war and believed it would help win equality
William Monroe Trotter said victims of racism should not support a racist govt
Great Migration
Thousands of African-Americans moved North to get away from Jim Crow and work in war industries
Racial violence moved North

9. Social Consequences for Women
New jobs: railroad workers, coal miners, ship-building, etc.
Volunteers: Red Cross, promoting war bonds
Many, like Jane Addams, became pacifists (believed all war is evil)
Wilson gave support to the 19th Amend. but not to equal pay for equal work
Women served in the Army Corps of Nurses without rank or pay
13,000 women served in non-combat positions in the Navy and Marines (the Navy gave them rank)
Stepped up efforts for women’s suffrage and the 19th amendment

13. Women also had to sacrifice fashion for the war effort.

14. Social Consequences: The 1918-1919 Flu Epidemic
500,000 Americans, 30 million worldwide died
Devastated the U.S. economy
Spread by soldiers returning home
Contributed to the chaos and despair caused by the war