THE WAR AT HOME

CONGRESS GIVES POWER TO WILSON

In times of war, Congress gives the president more freedom with his powers. Wilson was given direct economic control of the country.

DIRECT ECONOMIC CONTROL

The entire economy had to be mobilized. Many industries stopped making consumer goods to make more war supplies. Wilson set prices and regulated war related industries.

WAR INDUSTRIES BOARD

Encouraged industries to increase efficiency and use mass production Assembly lines

War Economy
Wages in some industries rose, but prices rose as well Price controls were placed on the wholesale level but not retail Prices went up for consumers and profits went up for owners

National War Labor Board

Established by Woodrow Wilson to prevent strikes or labor disputes Pressured industries to give workers what they wanted In return, labor leaders agreed not to disrupt war production

Food Administration and Herbert Hoover

Responsible for increasing food production while reducing civilian consumption Encouraged Americans to save food on their own Food Will Win the WarDont Waste It Hooverize by serving just enough

Selling the War

War financing US spent about $33 billion on the war 1/3 from taxes the other from WAR BONDS Liberty Bonds and Victory Bonds Committee on Public Information Organized to advertise and popularize the war
Posters

Four Minute Men

Attacks on Civil Liberties

Anti-Immigrant Hysteria (led to violence)
Foreign born Americans attacked
Germans Austria-Hungarians

Lost their jobs German classes dropped German music not played Suspicious of spies

Attacks on Civil Liberties

Espionage Act 1917 Established penalties and prison terms for anyone who gave aid to the enemy Included disloyalty, false reports, or simply interfering with the war effort

Attacks on Civil Liberties

Sedition Act 1918
Expanded the definition of the Espionage Act Illegal to make any public expression against the war Allowed officials to prosecute anyone who criticized the government or president
Could not be anti-war

Social Changes
African Americans
Mixed feelings about the war but most supported Served in segregated units

The Great Migration

WWI accelerated migration north Escape racial discrimination Bowl weevils, floods, and droughts Job openings

Social Changes
Women and the War
1st war women served in armed forces
Nurses Radio Operators Electricians Pharmacists Photographers

At home, women filled positions previously held by men 19th Amendment Passed in 1919; Ratified in 1920

Social Changes
Flu Epidemic 1918 of the U.S. population suffered from the Flu Businesses closed Casket shortage International Epidemic