Propaganda and Limiting Rights WWI – Home Front Propaganda and Limiting Rights

Can you remember a military slogan? “Uncle Sam wants YOU!” “Be all that you can be, find your future in the army!” “Army strong.” Why would such slogans encourage people to enlist? How can propaganda be an effective government tool? How will the lives of Americans change in the WWI era? 

Be all that you can be, find your future in the army.

Aim: To what extent did the home front affect the economic and social lives of America and its people? Key Terms/People/Actions: Mobilizing Espionage Act 1917/1918 Propaganda Schenk v. United States Rationing Eugene Debs Palmer Raids War Bonds American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Senator La Follette Alien and Sedition Acts (reminder) Essential Questions: How successful was the government in making those at home contribute to the war effort? Explain. Why was the home front a necessary part of America’s role in WWI? Should rights be sacrificed for protection of “national security”? What will be the lasting effects on America in the post war years?

The U. S. involvement in World War I was supported by the U. S The U.S. involvement in World War I was supported by the U.S. population. This support was rallied by the use of propaganda.

Offices Created to Assist with the War Effort Food Administration: Convinced Americans to adopt "meatless" and "wheatless” days in an effort to conserve food without rationing Fuel Administration: Promoted "heatless” days to conserve coal and to shut down factories that were using too much coal. War Industries Board (WIB): Created to regulate prices and production in American industry National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): Group of business owners and workers designed to compromise between what workers wanted and what owners were willing to give. Everyone must be kept happy during war! Railway Administration Act: gave de facto control of the railroads – the major source of transportation – to the federal government. The War Labor Board and War Industries Board – centralized commerce in the name of supporting the war effort.

THESIS WRITING Write a thesis with your group based on the Aim question: To what extent did the home front affect the economic and social lives of America and its people?

Thesis… The homefront affected the economic and social lives of Americans by the increased sense of nationalism, conservation efforts, massively by mobilization of an entire population, drastically censoring freedom of speech and press, increased tension between government and the people, increasing government influence on business/abandoning of laissez faire principles, greater employment…