“The Home Front” WWI

Warm Up: Take a minute to think about this poster Warm Up: Take a minute to think about this poster. What food or luxury items would you have been willing to give up to help the war effort? What would you never be willing to give up? Why?

Propaganda What is it? information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. U.S. government launched a propaganda campaign to help pay for the war Propaganda posters appealed to American’s strong sense of patriotism, encouraged people to buy liberty bonds, to save food for the troops by planting ‘victory gardens’ to grow their own food, and other posters simply encouraged men to enlist in the military.

Selective Service Act (1917) Required all men from age 21 to 30 to register for the military draft By 1918, approximately 4 million Americans joined the armed forces

Food Administration Wilson chose Herbert Hoover to boost food production. He encouraged Americans to act voluntarily in order to get as much food to the troops as possible.

Organizing the War Effort Food: Americans learned to conserve food for soldiers Examples: “Wheat-less Mondays” “Meatless Tuesdays”

Victory Gardens In order to support troops, “victory gardens” were grown by people throughout the nation. In addition to their economic impact, the gardens also boosted morale for the war.

Labor: Managing Industry Wilson set up the War Industries Board Told factories what to produce War Labor Board settled labor disputes (issues between workers and employers)

Liberty Bonds Liberty Bonds: *Americans would lend money to government to pay for war *Movie stars helped sell them *Raised $21 billion in bonds

Four Minute Men Four Minute Men made speeches urging Americans to make sacrifices for the goals of freedom and democracy.

A Speech by a Four Minute Man Ladies and Gentlemen: I have just received the information that there is a German spy among us— a German spy watching us. He is around, here somewhere, reporting upon you and me—sending reports about us to Berlin and telling the Germans just what we are doing with the Liberty Loan. From every section of the country these spies have been getting reports over to Potsdam—not general reports but details—where the loan is going well and where its success seems weak, and what people are saying in each community. For the German Government is worried about our great loan. Those Junkers fear its effect upon the German morale. They’re raising a loan this month, too.

If the American people lend their billions now, one and all with a hip-hip-hurrah, it means that America is united and strong. While, if we lend our money half-heartedly, America seems weak and autocracy remains strong. Money means everything now; it means quicker victory and therefore less bloodshed. We are in the war, and now Americans can have but one opinion, only one wish in the Liberty Loan. Well, I hope these spies are getting their messages straight, letting Potsdam know that America is hurling back to the autocrats these answers: For treachery here, attempted treachery in Mexico, treachery everywhere—one billion. For murder of American women and children—one billion more.

For broken faith and promise to murder more Americans—billions and billions more. And then we will add: In the world fight for Liberty, our share—billions and billions and billions and endless billions. Do not let the German spy hear and report that you are a slacker. Committee on Public Information, Four Minute Man Bulletin, No. 17 (October 8, 1917).

Women Workers As men went into the army, women took their jobs at home Received better pay in war industry jobs…BUT still earned less than men. Factory Jobs: assembled weapons, airplane parts, etc. Helped women with women’s rights…BUT when men returned home, women were kicked out of these jobs.

Anti-German Prejudice German Americans endured intolerance during wartime - Loyalty to U.S. was questioned - Attacked on the streets - German families changed last names - Schools stopped teaching German Robert Prager was lynched by a mob because he was born in Germany…jury refused to convict mob leaders. Americans called: - German measles = ‘liberty measles’ - Sauerkraut = ‘liberty cabbage’

Great Migrations War spurred migration within the nation & immigration from other countries stopped Draft took workers from factories in cities, so cities swelled with newcomers During war, almost a half million African Americans and thousands of Mexican Americans moved from the South and Southwest to cities in the North

Great Migrations Blacks found better paying jobs in Northern war industries, so migration continued after the war…sometimes turned violent because of competition with housing and jobs …led to race riots (at one in Illinois in 1917, 39 African Americans were killed) In Southwest, ranchers pressed government to allow Mexicans to cross the border…almost 100,000 Mexicans entered to work on U.S. farms.

Great Migrations