1. The War at Home
11.3 Notes

2. Wilson’s New Powers Shift in production to war-time needs
Too difficult for private industry to handle
Government and businesses collaborated
Congress gave Wilson power
Direct control over economy
Power to fix prices
Regulate/nationalize war-related industries

3. War Industries Board Regulatory agency
Bernard M. Baruch – leader/businessman
Encourage companies to:
Use mass-production techniques = efficiency
Eliminate waste – standardized production
Industrial production increased 20%

4. Railroad Administration Fuel Administration
Controlled railroads
Fuel Administration
Monitored coal supplies
Rationed gasoline, heating oil
“gasless Sundays,” “lightless nights”
Daylight Savings
Food Administration
Herbert Hoover
“gospel of the clean plate”
“meatless,” “sweetless,” “wheatless,” “porkless”
Victory gardens at home
Raised prices on food staples (wheat, sugar, bread)
Increased farmland – incomes upped 30%
Tripled food shipments to Allies

5. War Economy Hourly wages increase Stock holders profited
Offset by rising prices of food, housing costs
Stock holders profited
National War Labor Board
“work or fight”
Mediated disputes between management and laborers
Worked to improve safety, conditions, hours
Child labor ban

6. War Finances 35.5 billion spent on war 1/3 from taxes
Progressive income tax
2/3 from public borrowing
“liberty loan” and “victory loan” bonds
“a friend of Germany” would refuse to buy a war bond

7. Committee on Public Information
Propaganda agency – George Creel
Biased communication designed to influence people’s thoughts and actions
Promoted patriotism
Paintings, posters, cartoons, sculptures, pamphlets
“Why We Are Fighting” and “The Meaning of America” speakers

8. Civil Liberties are Attacked
Civil liberties – freedoms
as citizens
Affected by war hysteria
German immigrants
targeted
Lost jobs
No Mozart, Bach, Beethoven
German books removed
German measles = “liberty
measles”
Hamburger = “liberty sandwich”
Dachsunds = “liberty pups”

9. Espionage and Sedition Acts
Passed in June 1917
Could be fined up to $10,000 and sentenced to 20 yrs in jail for interfering with the war effort or for saying anything against the government or war effort
Clearly violated 1st Amendment
Union leaders targeted – Eugene Debs
10 year sentence