America’s Homefront

Building an Army Congress past the Selective Service Act Congress past the Selective Service Act Draft Draft 9.6 million registered for the draft and were assigned a number 9.6 million registered for the draft and were assigned a number Sec of War Baker pulled out number 258 Sec of War Baker pulled out number 258 Over course of war 24 million registered / 2.8 million were drafted Over course of war 24 million registered / 2.8 million were drafted

Building a War time Economy Bernard Baruch Bernard Baruch Wall Street investor Wall Street investor head of WIB (War Industries Board) head of WIB (War Industries Board) Main Regulatory body of war-related production Regulated all industries engaged in the war effort Regulated all industries engaged in the war effort Doled out raw materials, what & how much to produce and fixed prices Doled out raw materials, what & how much to produce and fixed prices Encourage use of mass-production techniques & standardization to increase efficiency & eliminate waste Encourage use of mass-production techniques & standardization to increase efficiency & eliminate waste “Gasless Sundays” & “Lightless night” “Gasless Sundays” & “Lightless night”

Building Agriculture Production Herbert Hoover Head of the Food Administration Set prices high to encourage farmers to produce did not rationing but encouraged people to voluntarily to cut back did not rationing but encouraged people to voluntarily to cut back Wheatless Monday and Wed MeatlessSweetless “gospel of the clean plate Victory Gardens Daylight Savings “Food will win the war”

Building Funds to Fight the War Raised money for war effort Raised money for war effort Taxes Taxes progressive income tax progressive income tax Excise tax Excise tax Luxury tax Luxury tax Sold War Bonds Sold War Bonds “4 minute men” speeches “4 minute men” speeches “Only a friend of Germany would refuse to buy war bonds” ~William G. McAdoo, Treasury Secretary

Building Support for the War Committee on Public Information Committee on Public Information George Creel George Creel former muckraker former muckraker Propaganda - biased communication designed to influence people’s thoughts and actions Propaganda - biased communication designed to influence people’s thoughts and actions Paintings, cartoons, posters, sculptures, pamphlets, booklets, leaflets, and short movies Paintings, cartoons, posters, sculptures, pamphlets, booklets, leaflets, and short movies

Building “Support” for the war Espionage and Sedition Acts, 1917 & 1918 Espionage and Sedition Acts, 1917 & 1918 Fines and jail time Fines and jail time Interference with war effort or saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the gov’t or war effort Interference with war effort or saying anything disloyal, profane, or abusive about the gov’t or war effort What about the 1 st Amendment? What about the 1 st Amendment?

The Great Migration Mass movement of African- Americans from the South to North Mass movement of African- Americans from the South to North Escape racial discrimination Escape racial discrimination Harsh conditions in South – boll weevil, floods, droughts Harsh conditions in South – boll weevil, floods, droughts Job opportunities Job opportunities Overcrowding and racial tension Overcrowding and racial tension

Women Took over jobs previously held by men Volunteers Helped to advance women’s causes Women were not paid equally

Flu Epidemic crisis on the home front crisis on the home front 1/4 of U.S. population affected 1/4 of U.S. population affected Economy drops Economy drops Army poor living condition = 1/3 of troops Army poor living condition = 1/3 of troops