U.S. Propaganda Posters

Causes of WWI Alliances (Triple Entente and Triple Alliance) Nationalism – a devotion to the interest of one’s nation Imperialism – a country’s drive to own as many colonies as one can Militarism – develop military forces and use them as a tool for diplomacy

Reasons why the U.S. joins… Zimmermann note American merchant ships are being sunk because of Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare Russia replaces its monarchy with a representative government Make sure Allies can repay their debts to the United States

Here comes America… 200,000 troops in service when we declare war on April 6, 1917 Selective Service Act in May 1917 requires American men to register with the government so that it can randomly select men to serve = draft 2 million American service men will reach Europe after 8 months of training

The government steps in… War Industries Board - established in 1917 to encourage companies to use mass production techniques and produce less waste - led to a 20 percent increase in U.S. production Railroad Administration Fuel Administration - monitored coal supplies, rationed gas and heating oil - daylight-saving time in March of 1918

At home… National War Labor Board - established in war raised hourly wages but didn’t help because of rising food and housing costs (stockholders made a lot of money) - “Work or fight” (6,000 strikes during the war; union members up to 4 million) - pushed for 8 hr. day, safety inspections, and a ban on child labor

Food Administration Herbert Hoover was put in charge “gospel of the clean plate” Urged people to cut back on sweets, bread, meats,etc. Set a high government price on wheat and other staples

Show me the money… U.S. government spent about 35.5 billion dollars on the war effort Raised 1/3 through taxes -Progressive income tax (tax high incomes at a higher rate) Sold “Liberty Loan” and “Victory Loan” bonds (govt. borrows money from citizens)

The role of women Took jobs as railroad workers, cooks, dockworkers, bricklayers Mined coal and helped build ships Continued as nurses, teachers, and clerks Volunteered for the Red Cross and sold war bonds 19 th amendment passed in 1920

Propaganda is key… Committee on Public Information (CPI) - biased communication designed to increase American support for the war - George Creel put in charge (muckraker) - recruited 75,000 men to speak on everything relating to the war/used Boy Scouts

Anti-German everything Discrimination against German immigrants –Pulled German books off shelves –Refused to play Mozart, Bach, etc. –Flagged, tar & feathered, and lynched German-Americans –Changed German town names German Measles  Liberty Measles Hamburger  Salisbury Steak/Liberty Sandwich

So much for the 1 st amendment! Espionage & Sedition Acts –Fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to 20 years in jail for interfering with war effort / badmouthing the government –Magazines/newspapers which were against he war lost mailing privileges –Targeted socialist & labor leaders

Events at home Great Migration –Jobs for African Americans in steel mills, ammunition plants & stockyards Flu Epidemic –Affected up to ¼ of total US population –Fall of 1918 –Killed 500,000 Americans before ending in 1919

The cost of war 22 million people dead (about half were civilians) 48,000 Americans died in battle 62,000 Americans died from disease Europe is a mess Hitler will never forget how Germany was humiliated in the Treaty of Versailles

Works Cited Duffy, Michael. First World War. COM March