10.2 Mrs. Stoffl

 Nationalism, Imperialism, Militarism, Alliance System  Economic ties  German U-boat attacks  Zimmerman Telegram  Russian democracy

 “War is no longer Samson with his shield and spear and sword, and David with his sling. It is the conflict of the smokestacks now, the combat of the driving wheel and the engine” U.S. Secretary of War Newton Baker

 Wilson pushed Congress to pass the Selective Service Act (1917): Selective Service Commission Draft of men for the military Required men b/w at first then was expanded to  24 million registered, 2.8 million drafted 4.8 million American men sent to war during WWI

 Congress gave Wilson direct control over much of the economy to regulate + nationalize certain war industries. Power to fix prices

War Industries Board Regulatory body to ensure resources like coal, iron and steel were sent solely to wartime industries. Established after the Council of Nat’l Defense was ineffective Led by Bernard Baruch  Restrictions on alcohol production to save grain  Shipyards, Railroads, and Fuel also regulated by the gov’t

 Formed to help conserve and produce food under the leadership of Herbert Hoover  “Gospel of the clean plate.”  Food Conservation One day/week should be meatless, another sweetless, two days wheatless, & two others porkless.  Victory gardens = gardens of veggies in public parks Hoover raised the price of wheat to encourage farmers to grow more  American food shipments to Allies tripled

 Wages rose across many industries during the war around 20% Making $5/day in 1914, how much in 1917 if increased by 20%?  However home prices and food costs also rose  Stockholders in large businesses saw enormous profits

 Management making $$$$$ while labor making $.  Increased demand for supplies = increase in hours, child labor and production speed  ∴ union membership surged, 6,000 strikes during the war

 Workers who refused to obey board decisions lost draft exemption.  Board would: improve factory conditions Support 8/hr work day, Conduct inspections Enforce child labor ban

 Spent $35.5 billion  Progressive income tax  higher income = higher taxes  Increased the excise tax on certain goods  “Liberty Loans” and “Victory Loans”

 Committee on Public Information – nation’s first propaganda agency headed by George Creel Former muckraker journalist who persuaded 1000s of artists and ad agencies to create pro-war propaganda Four-Minute Men: speak about the war, draft, victory gardens, why we are fighting,  Pamphlets, books, leaflets, etc., supporting the war and stressing the wickedness of the enemy (very often Germany). Very effective in support war effort BUT…

 Resistance to Draft – intrusion in private life, didn’t want to fight, 12% didn’t respond Conscientious objectors: ppl whose moral/religious life forbade them from fighting  Was supported by the draft but ignored for the most part  ppl shamed for not fighting  Women Work for Peace Women’s Peace Party Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Jeannette Rankin (1 st female Congressperson voted against the war) BUT most women supported the war (NAWSA)

 Careful line between respecting individual rights & protecting the war effort and the greater good of the citizens  You could be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to 20 years in prison if.. Interfered w/ war effort Loss of mailing privileges for anti-war newspapers Saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the gov’t OR war effort (Sedition Act) 2,000 prosecutions (1,000+ convictions)

 Eugene Debs – Convicted under the sedition act Given 10 years for speaking out against war + draft Speech in Canton, OH  Emma Goldman – 2 years + $10,000 for organizing the No-Conscription League Deported to Russia  Big Bill Haywood of the Wobblies Accused of sabotaging war efforts for encouraging workers to strike for better conditions Sentenced to prison but skipped bail and fled to Russia

 Challenge of the Sedition Act  Court ruled: Certain instances when the need for public order is so strong that 1 st Amend. protections of speech do not apply

 Violations of civil liberties of certain ethnic groups and anti-war activists were infuriated Anti-Immigrant Hysteria:  Attacks on Americans from Germany Ppl w/German last names lost their jobs Schools stopped teaching German Towns and foods w/German names were changed  Liberty-steaks, liberty measles Violence against German-Americans (tar and feathers, lynching)

 Think about the Anti-German sentiment in the U.S. during WWI, why do you think some people acted this way? Knowing what you know about Germany’s role in WWI, do you think their actions are justified?  Do you think the U.S. should have placed restrictions on anti-war proponents? Do you agree with the Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1918? Should rights be forgone in times of war?

 Women picked up jobs that had been solely men before the war and those of traditional women’s roles Mining, railroad workers, dockworkers, nurses, teachers, clerks  Some women active in the peace mvm’t Women’s Peace Party (1915)  1919 – Congress passed the 19 th Amendment  Hello Girls: French speaking American women that helped translate b/w the two countries.

 W.E.B. DuBois: Blacks should support the war effort  This would strengthen calls for racial justice  William Monroe Trotter: Newspaper editor  Victims of racism should not support a racist gov’t  Ultimately, most African Americans supported the war 367,000 served in WWI

 Large scale mvm’t of 1.2 million Southern blacks to cities the in North b/w Why?  Escape racial discrimination in the South and lynching (Jim Crow).  Cotton fields ruined by boll weevil infestation = loss of jobs, Jobs in North due to decrease in immigration + increase in production  Northern newspapers encouraged blacks to come North Painted a picture of prosperity contrasted with Southern lynching and racism

 Fall(1918) : flu affected ¼ of US population, killed 500,000  Devastating impact on the economy as mines, factories, offices, had to shut down  Cities ran short on coffins  ¼ of soldiers infected across the globe, hit the Germans the worst