1. American Home Front During World War I
February 23, 2017

2. April 1917 – U.S. enters WWI
Not many troops
May 1917: Selective Service Act passed
Draft
Ages 21 – 31 (later changed to 18 – 45)
Over 24 million men registered
2.8 million drafted (most to France)
Over 2 million volunteers
No substitutes/ no draft riots
Supposed to be “War to end all Wars…”
Gov’t regulated:
Crops grown
Products produced in each industry
Railway use
Coal production

3. Government Agencies during WWI February 27, 2017

4. War Industries Board (WIB)
Led by Bernard Baruch
Regulate all industries dealing with war
Steel; farming (food); coal; railroad; textile (clothing); medical; weaponry
WIB determines:
Number of products produced
Where products go (i.e. military/ civilian)
How much money charged
Food Administration
Led by Herbert Hoover (future president)
Set prices HIGH for wheat – why?
Why – Need wheat for mostly ALL FOODS
RESULT: HIGH PROFITS encourage farmers to keep growing WHEAT

5. Americans encouraged to CONSERVE FOOD
Wheatless Monday & Friday
Meatless Tuesdays
Porkless Thursday and Saturday
RESULT: more food for troops (war)
Committee of Public Information (CPI)
Led by George Creel
Educate public about causes and nature of war
Stress cruelty/ wickedness of enemy
Convince Americans that the war is a JUST cause/ generate support for war
75,000 pamphlets; 6,000 press releases; 75,000 speeches; posters