The Home Front during WWI

1917 Selective Service Act Selective Service Act of 1917 required all men between 21 and 30 to register for the draft. A lottery randomly determined the order they were called before a local draft board in charge of selecting or exempting people from military service. Progressives believed civilians in local communities made best decisions about which men to draft African Americans served in segregated units often under the direct supervision of white officers.

24,000,000 men registered for the draft by the end of 1918 4,800,000 men served in WWI (2,000,000 saw active combat) 400,000 African-Americans served in segregated units 15,000 Native-Americans served as scouts, messengers, and snipers in non-segregated units

Opportunities for African Americans during WWI “Great Migration.” 1916 – 1919  70,000 War industries work Enlistment in segregated units

From the biography of a 'Munitionette', Miss Joan Williams Labor 'Women working in larger munitions factories were known as Canaries because they dealt with TNT which caused their skin to turn yellow. Around 400 women died from overexposure to TNT during World War One. Other hazards were more obvious and minor problems were common.' · The War Industries Board told factories what to produce and the War Labor Board settled labor disputes From the biography of a 'Munitionette', Miss Joan Williams

The Role of Women in WWI Women in the military Army Nursing Corps 10,000 overseas Navy clerical duties, radio operators

Organizing the War Effort at Home Congress created special boards to coordinate the mobilization of the economy. Cooperation between big business and government. Fuel Administration- Manage the nation’s use of coal and oil. Conserve energy, instituted daylight savings time and “heatless Mondays” National War Labor Board mediate labor disputes that might otherwise lead to strikes. Wage increases, 8 hr. workday, and right of unions to organize and bargain collectively. Labor leaders agreed not to disrupt war production with strikes or other disturbances WIB- What industries could and could not produce. Controlled the flow of raw materials, factories, could set prices. Production in U.S. increased by 20% Food- Increasing food production while reducing civilian consumption

Organizing the War Effort at Home War Industries Board – Bernard Baruch Food Administration – Herbert Hoover Fuel Administration – Railroad Administration – William McAdoo National War Labor Board – W. H.Taft & Frank P. Walsh

Food Administration “Wheatless Mondays” “Meatless Tuesdays” “Porkless Thursdays” · Food: Americans learned to conserve food for the soldiers.

Espionage Act – 1917 How far are YOU willing to go for your country? - forbade actions that obstructed recruitment or efforts to promote insubordination in the military. - ordered the Postmaster General to remove Leftist materials from the mail. - fines of up to $10,000 and/or up to 20 years in prison.

How far are YOU willing to go for your country? Sedition Act – 1918 - it was a crime to: speak against the purchase of war bonds or utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, or abusive language about the US Gov’t, Constitution, or the armed forces willfully urge, incite or advocate any reduction of production of things necessary or essential to the prosecution of the war…with intent of such curtailment to cripple or hinder the US in the prosecution of the war.