The War at Home Getting to Europe would be tricky because of the U-boat activity in the Atlantic. The U.S. developed the convoy system, in which supply ships and troops would group together through the Atlantic to Europe. We also placed depth charges in the Atlantic where we thought the U-Boats would be located. These were underwater mines placed at different depths that would explode on contact. Example: Finding Nemo

The War at Home Wartime Economy The economy had to be reorganized. Bonds were sold and taxes were increased. All actions had to be coordinated. Government, Business, and Industry actions had to be organized and cooperate with each other. Federal war boards were created for each category like Food, Materials, and Production. Food Administration – Run by Herbert Hoover. Responsible for regulating the production and supply of food supplies. Called for meatless and wheatless days of the week or voluntary rationing. Very successful. Fuel Administration – regulated fuel supplies Railroad Administration – Regulated shipping prices

The War at Home War Industries Board – Central federal agency in control of all other wartime industries. Run by Bernard Baruch. This agency’s goals were to: find scarce materials, establish production priorities, and setting prices. Committee on Public Information – Run by George Creel. Started out printing factual information, then became a propaganda campaign of posters and videos. National War Labor Board - Created to work out employer/employee contracts in regards to unions during war time. Strikes were not desirable. Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defense – Civilian Agency that built support for the war effort. Millions of workers would be needed to fill demand.

The War at Home Civilians Help in the war effort: Women and children planted victory gardens to help rationing food. Girl Scouts helped to raise food and collect food donations for the war effort Volunteering – Young people donated money from odd jobs, and labor. Created a U.S. Garden Army – teens vegetable gardens grew to about 2 million, and grew $48 million worth of produce. Some states passed laws that allowed students to miss up to 7 months of school to work on farms to grow food for the war effort. Some students in high school in the Northwest help to plant the spring crop and were given full semester credit for school. Most people voluntarily gave up meat and wheat on different days of the week, as well as consuming less in general. For example use less gas, dairy products, or supplies that the military could use in some way.

The War at Home Espionage and Sedition Acts – These measures outlawed acts of treason and made it a crime to utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal or abusive language, criticizing the government, the flag, or the military.

The War at Home Propaganda Campaign: These campaigns were designed to get support for the war, at any cost. The U.S. wanted to unite the country in the war effort. Tactics used in Propaganda: Vilify the enemy – make the enemy look like a villain Sex Appeal – Make men feel like they will get beautiful women if they enlist Pride – Attack men’s pride to convince them to join. Guilt – Guilt people into helping in some way. Nationalism – Appeal to sense of pride in your country. Most countries had these. Usually in the form of movies or posters.