Chapter 12 Section 3 Notes The War at Home Pages 368-374
Mobilizing the Nation Government set up programs to Finance the War Conserve Scarce Resources Redirect Industry and Labor toward Wartime production Mobilize support through propaganda
Directing the Economy William McAdoo Sec. of Treasury Raise money to pay for the war Cost $35 billion including loans to Allies Issued 4 Liberty Bonds and Victory Bond drives
Increased taxes Increased taxes on Business and Personal incomes in October 1917 Raised $10 billion
War Boards Established war boards which coordinated government, business, and industry Sweeping power without complete control Set prices Set production levels Regulated crucial businesses
Conserving Resources Food Administration Headed by Herbert Hoover Regulate the production and supply of food Encourage increased agricultural production To stimulate production guaranteed high prices 921 million bushels produced in 1919 Conserve existing food supplies Wheatless days and meatless days Plant “victory gardens”
Fuel Administration Harry Garfield– son of James Garfield former president Heatless Monday’s When coal ran short in 1918 closed factories east of Mississippi for several days
Organizing Industry Railroad Administration William McAdoo leader Reorganized railroads with limits on transportation rates and workers wages
War Industries Board (WIB) Led by Bernard Baruch Responsible for Allocating scarce materials Establishing production priorities Setting prices Preferred to get owners to cooperate but threat of takeover when necessary Some thought government intervention would damage free enterprise system but changed minds when profits soared
Mobilizing Workers Organized Labor Because of draft and slower immigration workforce decreases Industry has a shortage of labor Unions take advantage of situation 4500 strikes involving 1 million workers in 1917 alone
National War Labor Board (NWLB) Forms in April 1918 Arbitrates disputes between workers and employers 1200 cases heard– usually rule in favor of union Because of success of unions membership in AFL grows to 3.2 million in 1919
Labor Shortage Strengthened unions and brought changes in workforce Number of women in workforce grows by 6% to 1.5 million during war
Wartime Mobilization Carrie Chapman Catt– headed Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defense Harriet Stanton Blatch– headed Food Administration Speakers Bureau Womens efforts in wartime helped secure passage of 19th Amendment– gave them the right to vote Wilson supports passage in recognition of their efforts
Volunteerism Americans voluntarily Conserved energy Recycled essential materials Planted “Victory Gardens” Purchased Liberty and Victory Bonds
Juliette Gordon Low Founded Girl Scouts of America in 1915 Grew from 500 girls in 1915 to 168,000 in 1927
Great Trek North Mexicans were fleeing Revolution in Mexico in the late 1910’s Also were workers in Southwest U.S. 150,000 migrated north to U.S. during the war
Great Migration Southern Blacks moved north to work in industrial jobs Fleeing discrimination and poor living conditions in the South Better standard of living Racial violence still a problem July 2, 1917 East St. Louis– white rioters kill at least 39 blacks
Influencing Attitudes Committee on Public Information (CPI) Formed in Spring of 1917 and led by George Creel