The War at Home

President Wilson and Congress Entire economy had to refocus Had to shift to making war goods Congress gave President Wilson direct control over the economy – Power to fix prices – Regulate certain war-related industries

War Industries Board Encouraged companies to use mass- production techniques Eliminated waste by standardizing products Industrial production increases 20% Other companies were used to regulate as well – Fuel Administration creates Daylight Savings Time

War Economy Wages rose in war time efforts for blue-collar jobs – Household’s income decreases however Rising food and housing costs – Uneven pay between laborer and management Caused many strikes to break out Created National War Labor Board – lost draft exemptions for not obeying management – Worked to improve factory conditions 8 hour work day Safety inspections Child labor ban

Food Administration Help produce and conserve food Led by Herbert Hoover – One day of the week = meatless – Another = sweetless – Two = wheatless – Two more = porkless Children spent time after school gardening in parks Increase in price of wheat – Farmers increase their land and production

Selling the War Government had to raise money and gain public support for the war U.S. spent $35.5 billion on the war – 1/3 raised through taxes Progressive income tax Excise tax on luxury items Began using propaganda (biased information)

Civil Liberties Main target were American immigrants – Mainly targeted Germans and Austria-Hungary people Liberty Measles Salisbury Steak or Liberty Sandwich Liberty cabbage Espionage and Sedition Acts – Person could be fine dup to $10k + 20 yrs of prison for interfering with the war effort – Targeted socialists and labor leaders

Social Change African Americans split on war beliefs – W.E.B. Du Bois -> believed they should support it – William Monroe Trotter -> Why support racist gov’t? – Most backed the war efforts The Great Migration – Movement of blacks from South to cities in the North Many blacks sought to escape racial discrimination in the South Much of South’s cotton fields were ruined – Henry Ford opens up automobile assembly line to blacks

Women Begin taking over man held jobs – RxR, cooks, dockworkers, bricklayers, etc. Helped promote women’s suffrage > Congress passes the 19 th amendment