WWI and the Home Front

Main Idea WWI spurred social, political, and economic change in the United States. WWI spurred social, political, and economic change in the United States.

President Wilson is Empowered WWI was such an immense conflict, the entire economy had to be refocused on the war effort. WWI was such an immense conflict, the entire economy had to be refocused on the war effort. Shift from consumer goods to war supplies Shift from consumer goods to war supplies

War Industries Board Encouraged companies to use mass production techniques to increase efficiency. Encouraged companies to use mass production techniques to increase efficiency. Production increased by 20 percent! Production increased by 20 percent!

Railroad and Fuel Administration Monitored coal supplies Monitored coal supplies Rationed gasoline and heating oil Rationed gasoline and heating oil Americans adopted “gasless Sundays” and “lightless nights.” Americans adopted “gasless Sundays” and “lightless nights.” Daylight savings Daylight savings

War Economy Hourly wages for workers in metal trades, shipbuilding, and meat packing rose by 20%! Hourly wages for workers in metal trades, shipbuilding, and meat packing rose by 20%! The DuPont Company’s stock value increased 1,600 percent between 1914 and The DuPont Company’s stock value increased 1,600 percent between 1914 and Union memberships almost doubled. Union memberships almost doubled.

National War Labor Board Workers had a draft exemption. Workers had a draft exemption. Many unions going on strike. Many unions going on strike. Wilson said, “work or fight.”Wilson said, “work or fight.” Striking workers could now be drafted. Striking workers could now be drafted.

Wilson’s Food Administration One day a week was “meatless,” another was “sweetless,” two days were “wheatless,” and two other days were “porkless.” One day a week was “meatless,” another was “sweetless,” two days were “wheatless,” and two other days were “porkless.”

Victory Gardens After school, children would go home and grow tomatoes and cucumbers in public parks. After school, children would go home and grow tomatoes and cucumbers in public parks. American food shipments to the Allied forces TRIPLED! American food shipments to the Allied forces TRIPLED! Farmers dedicated another 40 million acres to wheat and their incomes grew by 30%! Farmers dedicated another 40 million acres to wheat and their incomes grew by 30%!

War Financing The U.S. spent $35.5 billion on the war effort. The U.S. spent $35.5 billion on the war effort. 1/3 was gained through a progressive income tax. 1/3 was gained through a progressive income tax. Luxury tax Luxury tax Victory Loans / Victory Bonds Victory Loans / Victory Bonds

Committee on Public Information Government sponsored propaganda agency. Government sponsored propaganda agency. American artists were commissioned to create posters. American artists were commissioned to create posters. Distributed 75 million pamphlets with the help of the Boy Scouts. Distributed 75 million pamphlets with the help of the Boy Scouts. Promoted patriotism. Promoted patriotism.

Attack on Civil Liberties With war comes conformity. With war comes conformity. Anti-immigrant hysteria broke out Anti-immigrant hysteria broke out Especially directed toward German and Austria- Hungarian immigrants Especially directed toward German and Austria- Hungarian immigrants

German Immigrants Many people with German names lost their jobs. Many people with German names lost their jobs. Orchestras refused to play Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Orchestras refused to play Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Towns with German names had their names changed. Towns with German names had their names changed.

German language was dropped from schools. German language was dropped from schools. Books, written by German authors, were removed from libraries. Books, written by German authors, were removed from libraries. German Americans were getting flogged or smeared with tar and feathers. German Americans were getting flogged or smeared with tar and feathers. One German born miner was wrapped in the American flag and lynched. One German born miner was wrapped in the American flag and lynched.

German measles were renamed the “liberty measles.” German measles were renamed the “liberty measles.” Hamburger was renamed Salisbury steak or a “liberty sandwich.” Hamburger was renamed Salisbury steak or a “liberty sandwich.” Sauerkraut was “liberty cabbage” and dachsunds were “liberty puppies.” Sauerkraut was “liberty cabbage” and dachsunds were “liberty puppies.”

Espionage and Sedition Acts Could be fined up to $10,000 or 20 years for interfering with the war effort. Could be fined up to $10,000 or 20 years for interfering with the war effort.

Eugene Debs Sentenced to ten years in prison for speaking out against the draft. Sentenced to ten years in prison for speaking out against the draft.

Social Change W. E. B. DuBois believed that African American support for the war would strengthen calls for racial justice. W. E. B. DuBois believed that African American support for the war would strengthen calls for racial justice.

The Great Migration Hundreds of thousands of Southern blacks moved to cities in the north. Hundreds of thousands of Southern blacks moved to cities in the north.

Factors of the Great Migration Escape racism Escape racism Avoid the Jim Crow laws Avoid the Jim Crow laws Boll weevil infestation ruined cotton plantations Boll weevil infestation ruined cotton plantations More jobs in the north More jobs in the north

Women in the War Men went off to war and women went to work in their place Men went off to war and women went to work in their place “The services of women during the supreme crisis have been of the most single usefulness and distinction.” President Wilson “The services of women during the supreme crisis have been of the most single usefulness and distinction.” President Wilson

Women in the War 1919 – Congress passed the 19 th Amendment granting women the right to vote – Congress passed the 19 th Amendment granting women the right to vote – amendment was ratified by the states 1920 – amendment was ratified by the states

Flu Epidemic Affected 25% of the U.S. population Affected 25% of the U.S. population Mines shut down Mines shut down Telephone service cut in half Telephone service cut in half Cities ran short on coffins Cities ran short on coffins

Flu Epidemic Corpses of poor people lay unburied for as long as a week. Corpses of poor people lay unburied for as long as a week. Sudden onset Sudden onset Doctors could only quarantine Doctors could only quarantine 500,000 American soldiers died by ,000 American soldiers died by million killed worldwide 30 million killed worldwide

Home Front – Final Slide! WWI brought death and disease to millions as did the flu epidemic. WWI brought death and disease to millions as did the flu epidemic. The war came to a sudden end as leaders gathered at Versailles. The war came to a sudden end as leaders gathered at Versailles. Would WWI be the war to end all wars? Would WWI be the war to end all wars?