The Home Front “Perhaps it will not be long before we will read each day long lists of American boys killed or wounded in the trenches of France. There will be boys in those lists that you know, boys that I know. And as our eyes film over with tears it will be at least some comfort to us to be able to say, “I am helping too. I am saving food for the boys who are fighting.” While soldiers trained to fight in the war, Americans on the home front supported the war by working in war industries, lending money to the government, and conserving food to feed the troops abroad. Read passage above Why would the government want citizens to support the war effort? (a war requires citizens to make sacrifices. Without their support, conducting the war would be more difficult)

Why does it matter? War affects many things People: Greatest impact-ordinary people People: Fight, Sacrifice, Die Work to produce food Work to produce guns soldiers fire

Building an Army To build an army Encouraged men to volunteer Congress passed Selective Service Act-May 1917 1st day-9.6 million registered Great National Lottery 4.8 million served

Constructing a War Economy Council of National Defense: Regulated food production Coal and petroleum distribution Railway use War Industries Board Headed by B. Baruch Regulated ALL industries engaged in the war effort

Under President Hoover Agriculture He set prices high for wheat-encouraging farmers to produce more Asked Americans to conserve Wheatless Mondays Meatless Tuesdays Porkless Thursdays

Shaping Public Opinion Committee on Public Information George Creel-Dir. Combined education and widespread advertising to “Sell America” 75 million pamphlets 6,000 press releases 75,000 speakers

Opposition and its Consequences Conscientious Objectors American women Jane Addams Jeannette Rankin Espionage Act Sedition Act Prejudice against German Americans Conscientious objectors: people who felt it was immoral or went against their religion to fight in a war Jeannette Rankin-1st woman to serve in the house of representatives-voted against the war Espionage Act-allowed postal workers to ban treasonable or seditious newspapers from the mail; it enacted sever penalties for any engaging in treasonable activities; punished up to a 10,000 fine and 20 years in prison This act made it unlawful to use “disloyal, profane, scurrilous or abusive language about the American form of govt, the Constitution or the military Racial indifference; also found in movies of the time. Americans stopped teaching German in public schools; quit playing Beethoven and Brahms. They renamed german measles “liberty measles”, “Dachscunds” became “Liberty pups”. Some were harassed, beaten or even killed.

Women embrace new opportunities Suffrage movement Women in the workplace Jobs in occupations only open to men Army Corp-nurses 1919-19th amendment-right to vote for women

The Great Migration “If this is our country, than this is our war” W.E.B. Du Bois 367,000 African-Americans served in segregated units Movement from rural South to the Industrial North The war similarly presented new opportunities to African Americans. Most African leaders supported the war “If this…” He viewed this as an excellent opportunity for AA to show all Americans their loyalty Migration from rural south to the industrial north. Desired better jobs and a chance for advancemnt. Still others dreamed of a better future for their children. Btwn 1910-1920 more than 1.2 million African Americans moved to the North

Mexican-Americans Fleeing violence and poverty Increased demands for food Decrease in farmworkers Large population stayed in California Some of the same reasons that AA moved North caused Mexicans to cross the border into the US. Most immigrated to the American West, seeking work on large farms. Some was seasonal.

Quick-Write Write a paragraph describing three effects that World War I had on the American homefront. Think about economic and social changes caused by the war. Be sure to include at least one example of each effect to support your statements.