What problems did WWI bring on the home front?
Political
Use of propaganda
- Committee on Public Information led by George Creel waged a “war of words” to convince Americans to support war.
o Those who spoke out against war were labeled as “un-American” and persecuted.
o Sauerkraut renamed as “Liberty Cabbage”
o Stopping of German language classes in school.
o Growing nativisim and anti-foreignism in the country.
o Had vaudeville performers, movie starts depict the heroism of “boys” (US soldiers” and the villainy of the Kaiser.
o Used four minute men to mobilize the public through speeches.
- Espionage Act and Sedition Act led to prosecution of socialists and anti-advocates.
o Eugene v. Debs and leaders of the IWW ALL SENT TO PRISON.
o Greatly challenged the freedom of speech.
- In Schenck v. US Supreme Court ruled that freedom of speech could be suspended in wartime if the speech had a “clear and present danger” to the nation.
Massive drafting of soldiers
- Selective Service Act (1917) which had the system of “selective service” devised by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker as a democratic way of ensuring all groups in population be called into service.
o 2.8 million called into service.
o Draftees provided over half of 4.7 million which would eventually be American soldiers.
o Involvement of blacks as part of the army, and also had 400,000 blacks serve in WWI, though often in segregated units.
§ All were barred from being in Marine Corps, and many only had construction jobs.
o WEB Du Bois thought that fighting to “make the world safe for democracy” would earn them equal rights at home when the war ended (he would be bitterly disappointed).
- DEMOBILIZATION AFTER THE WAR.
o Suddenly 4 million American men who had taken from economy were back home and out of uniform. Took employment from women and African Americans who had previously thrived on war work.
§ Business boom of wartime went flat, and war production fell off.
o As a result US farmers suffered falling prices.
§ In cities, consumers went on buying spree leading to inflation and short boom in 1920. But after 1921, 10% of American workforce unemployed.
Finishing the War: 14 Points
- Ww previously had political stife kept to a minimum during the war crisis.
o Under slogan “Politics is Adjourned”
- But after WW personally appealed for Democratic victory in congressional elections, would put in party conflict back once again.
o Also WW refused to carry one Republican to rep for mission to Paris to discuss Treaty of Versailles
- Attempted to pass the League
o Met great opposition from Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.
- Paris Conference had power fall into Big Four (Wilson, Premier Orlando [Italy], PM George of Britain, Premier Clemenceau of France.
o Would give up part of 14 Points to make League Covenant to start.
o Back at home Republicans would not accept the treaty. Opposition from Hiram Johnson and William Borah.
§ Also WW refused to compromise because Senate didn’t like how the US, through collective security, were bound to help.
§
Economic
Great mobilization of money and supplies.
- Bernard Baruch, a Wall Street broker, volunteered to use extensive contacts in industry to help win war.
- Under his direction led the War Industries Board which set production priorities and established centralized control over raw materials and prices.
o Hampered by strong laissez fair attitudes
o Greatest success in taking over railroads to speed war supplies to and from factories.
- Herbert Hoover took charge of the Food Administration which encouraged American households to eat less meat and bread so that more food could be shipped abroad for French and British troops.
o Conservation would pay off as in 2 years, US overseas shipment of food would TRIPLE.
- Harry Garfield volunteered to head the Fuel Administration which directed at efforts to save coal and energy.
o Not important factories were closed and daylight saving time went into effect for the first time.
- Former president William Howard Taft headed the National War Labor Board.
o Labor won concessions during the war
- Previously were denied those.
o Wages rose and the 8 hour day became more common and union membership increased.
- After war in most heavily unionized sectors such as coal mining, manufacturing, RR, real wages had risen more than 20% over prewar levels.
- War Department established where they had the “work or fight” rule of 1918.
o Threatened to draft any who were unemployed
o A strong discouragement to go on strike.
- Wilson also launched a shipbuilding as well as endorse a modest buildup of army. But army still ranked 15th which was very poor.
Required a great amount of money
- War required a lot of money, and Wilson’s government managed to raise $33 billion in two years though loans and taxes.
o Conducted 4 massive drives to convince Americans to put savings into federal government Liberty Bonds.
§ Followed by a Victory Loan campaign in 1919.
o Congress increased personal income and corporate taxes and placed an excise tax on luxury goods to get more money.
Suppression of labor union rights
- AFL led by Samuel Gompers promised not to strike during duration of WAR
o Group would be rewarded w/ doubling membership after war.
- IWW would instead strike and cripple industries.
o “I Won’t Works”
o Led to their downfall.
- Great Migration of blacks led to the failure of the US steel strike.
Steel companies just brought in 30,000 blacks to keep mills running.
Social
Increase of civil rights.
- Women encouraged to entire work force to help war effort.
o Positive public support for women’s suffrage.
o Will lead to 19th Amendment passed on 1920.
o Previously progressive feminists were also pacifists and these found a voice in Alice Pauls’s National Woman’s Party.
- Demonstrated peacefully against “Kaiser Wilson”
- Larger part of the suffrage movement through National American Woman Suffrage Association which supported Wilson’s war
o Wanted to broaden democracy.
o Endorsed women suffrage as a “vitally necessary war measure”.
o Would lead to 1917 NY state legislature voting for women suffrage, and soon many other states followed.
o 80 years after Seneca Falls, 19th Amendment ratified in 1920.
- Despite political victory, and although Women’s Bureau created in Department of Labor, most women workers toon gave up war jobs.
o Congress also affirmed support for women back in homews with Sheppard Towner Maternity Act.
o But overall war was good for woman political rights.
- Blacks in the Great Migration to the North to war industry jobs in north and west.
o Led to riots break out in St. Louis and Chicago during war and in Pittsburg in 1919.
War Hysteria and anti – Foreinism
- Allowed nativist groups to carry out their prejudices on “disloyal” minorities.
o The American Protective League mounted “Hate the Hun” campaigns and attacked all things German, from performing Beethoven’s music to cooking of sauerkraut.
- 1919 widespread unhappiness and growing fears of socialism fueled by the Bolshevik revolution in Russia.
o Anti-German hysteria turned to anti-Communist hysteria known as the Red Scare.
- Palmer Raids.
o Series of unexplained bombings led Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, the “Fighting Quaker” to establish special office under J. Edgar Hoover to gather information on radicals.
§ Mass arrests of anarchists, Socialists, labor agitators.
o Over 6000 people arrested late 1919 – early 1920, based on minimal criminal evidence.
- Also had the deportation of 249 alleged “aliens” via Buford.
- More antiforeinism and anti-redism in “judicial lynching” where Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti sentenced to death penalty with prejudice in judge and jurh.
- Race Riots
o As a result of migration of blacks to northern cities during war.
o White resented competition.
o Largest in St. Louis in 1918.
o By 1919 racial tensions led to violence and in Chicago¸40 people killed, 500 injured.
§ Increase in racial violence and lynching by whites.
- HEYDAY of KKK
o Very popular in Bible Belt
o Strongest membership in postwar era 1920s.
o Spawned by postwar reaction, supported the nativist attitudes of war during the time.
Mass influx of
Labor Conflicts after War
- Unions had previously gained ground in Progressive era. Also offered a square deal under TR’s administration and protection from Sherman Antitrust Act through Clayton Antitrust Act.
o During war, also made important gains.
o But in post-war era, strikes of 1919 due to fear of revolution turned public opinion against unions.
CONCLUSION
Would lead to the Roaring 20s after war.
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