Political & Economic WWI Analyze the Political & Economic ramifications of WWI on America (11.4.5)

APK/Vocab Sedition – Rebellion against one’s government – treason Espionage – Spying or obtaining information about a foreign gov Emigrant – Person who leaves a country to live somewhere else Hysteria – Behavior exhibiting unmanageable fear Propaganda – Biased communication designed to influence thoughts Efficiency – Operation looking at production and costs

Content World War I led to an increase in the all of the following except – farm production and profits. – industrial production. – respect for African Americans. – available factory jobs.

“War is no longer Samson with his shield and spear and sword, and David with his sling. It is the conflict of smokestacks now, the combat of the driving wheel and the engine.” Newton Baker (Sec of War)

Economy - Consumers Shift from consumer goods to war very difficult – Business and Governmentlead changes – Pres Wilson had direct control Fix prices Regulate & nationalize war related industries

Economy- WIB War Industries Board (WIB) – Established in 1917 – Encouraged mass production techniques to increase efficiency – Standardized production – Production increased 20% Corporate profits soared Conserve fuel (oil and gas) Railroad controls

Economy - Wages Wages rose – So did housing cost and food prices Companies saw rise in profits but didn’t pass it onto workers – Union membership rose Make working conditions better for people Nation War Labor Board – Workers who disobeyed the government were drafted Work or Fight – Improved working condition 8hr day Safety inspections and ban on child labor

Economy - Food Food Administration – Helped produce and conserve food “Gospel of clean plate” 1 day a week “meatless” – Victory Gardens Families & Schools grow food Farmers increased production by 30%

Selling the War - Finance War Finance – US spent $35 bill Through taxes – Progressive tax – Luxury tax » Tobacco, liquor Loans & Victory Bonds

Selling the War – Propaganda Public Information – Propaganda Committee on Public Information (CPI) – Influence people’s thoughts and beliefs – Promoted Patriotism – Angered non-Americans

WWI Propaganda

Propaganda

Attacks on Civil Liberties - Immigrants Anti-Immigrant Hysteria – Main targets were those who emigrated to US Especially German & Austro-Hungarian – born or of descent Lost jobs if had a German name German Measles – “Liberty Measles” Dachshunds – “Liberty Pups” Sauerkraut – “Liberty Cabbage”

Attacks on Civil Liberties - Act Espionage & Sedition Act – Passed in 1917 & 1918 – Person fined up to $100,000 & 20 yrs in jail – Interfering with the war or saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the government or war effort – Violated 1 st Amend 2000 prosecutions & half led to convictions House refused to seat Congressmen due to anti war views

WASHINGTON - Capitol Police dropped a charge of unlawful conduct against antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan on Wednesday and apologized for ejecting her and a congressman’s wife from President Bush’s State of the Union address for wearing T-shirts with war messages. Espionage & Sedition Today

“The officers made a good faith, but mistaken effort to enforce an old unwritten interpretation of the prohibitions about demonstrating in the Capitol,” Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said in a statement late Wednesday. Sheehan’s T-shirt alluded to the number of soldiers killed in Iraq: “2245 Dead. How many more?” Capitol Police charged her with a misdemeanor for violating the District of Columbia’s code against unlawful or disruptive conduct on any part of the Capitol grounds, a law enforcement official said.

Young said he wouldn't be so mad if it were just Sheehan. "I totally disagree with everything she stands for," he said. "They said I was protesting," she told the St. Petersburg Times. "I said, "Read my shirt, it is not a protest.' They said, 'We consider that a protest.' I said, 'Then you are an idiot."

Closure - How the Government Controlled America Government took control of business to better produce, manufacture materials and improve work environments Propaganda was used to sway American’s opinion of the war and the enemy Government broke civil liberties in 2 ways – Immigrants became the focus of hysteria – Anyone who speaks out against the war is subject to jail and/or fines