Chapter 7 Section 3 WWI – The Home Front

Big Question Create a chart or diagram showing how the United States paid for the war, created enough supplies, mobilized workers, and influenced public opinion.

Key Terms War Revenue Act Liberty Bonds War Industries Board Food Regulations “Victory Gardens” Daylight Savings Time National War Labor Board Spanish Flu Epidemic Committee on Public Information Propaganda Espionage Act of 1917 Sedition Act of 1918 Schenck v. United States

Paying for the War Going to war was a huge and expensive thing to do Congress passed the War Revenue Act to pay for the war The act established very high taxes

U.S. gov. also borrowed money in form of Liberty Bonds Citizens buy bonds from gov. to be paid back later U.S. National Debt 1916 – $1.2 billion 1919 - $25.5 billion $20 billion of that was in Liberty bonds

Regulation Industry, Food, and Fuel Gov. needed to make sure troops had all materials they needed The War Industries Board was formed to regulate all materials needed for the war effort. All materials were regulated, military got what it needed first, U.S. citizens got what was left

Gov. began food regulations to control prices and production levels of food Gov. suggested Americans plant “Victory Gardens” and conserve food by having “Meatless Mondays” and “Wheatless Wednesdays” 1918, U.S. had 3X as much food as needed to feed people and military

Gov. also banned alcohol to conserve Beer = Germans  Prohibition starts in 1919

U.S. gov also regulated fuel and energy. Daylight savings time introduced “Gasless Sunday” & “Heatless Monday”

Supplies from America were vital to the struggling Allies. The power of manufacturing and farming gave a needed boost to the American economy as well. 1 billion rounds of ammunition 1.2 million rifles 1 billion pounds of explosives

Mobilizing Workers Many companies saw a huge rise in profits during war. They sold products to federal gov. who used them in war effort. Wages went up for workers but so did prices of food and housing.

Massive industrial output was critical to war effort Workers worked longer hours and formed unions Gov. passed laws preventing strikes of workers

National War Labor Board fought for safer conditions and established eight-hour workday and equal pay for equal work for women. Women were vital to war effort by taking over the jobs left by the men fighting in the war.

In 1918 & 1919 Spanish Flu epidemic hit the world. About half of the American troops who died in the war died from influenza. The disease killed 600,000 Americans.

Influencing Public Opinion Wilson needed to get support for war He created the Committee on Public Information. Propaganda (stories, posters, songs, speeches used to convince people to support something) was used to promote American support of the war.

Movie stars and artists encouraged people to support the war.

Americans began to distrust anything that was German. Anti-German feelings grew Sauerkraut = Liberty Cabbage Hamburger = Liberty Steak Schools stopped teaching German Some German-Americans were attacked

Congress passed laws that limited Americans’ freedom. Espionage Act of 1917 punished people for aiding enemy or refusing military service. Next year, Sedition Act of 1918 passed which made it illegal to say or print anything criticizing the gov, flag, or military

Charles Schenck was one of many people jailed for violating the new laws. In Schenck v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that freedom of speech could be limited if it caused danger for the country.

Big Questions & Key Terms Create a chart or diagram showing how the United States paid for the war, created enough supplies, mobilized workers, and influenced public opinion. War Revenue Act Liberty Bonds War Industries Board Food Regulations “Victory Gardens” Daylight Savings Time National War Labor Board Spanish Flu Epidemic Committee on Public Information Propaganda Espionage Act of 1917 Sedition Act of 1918 Schenck v. United States