World War I 1914-1920

Part III: Over HerePrior to reviewing this Power Point...

1) Read pages 657-6632) Answer the Part III guide questions:

• View the Power Point, explore the related links, complete the “tasks” and take detailed notes on the content. Be prepared to discuss the content and ask questions designed to refine your understanding.

Over HereObjectives…

Summarize the effect of World War I on the American home front.

“unprecedented control of civilian life and the economy”

Objectives…Describe the effects of World War I on the American…

-economy, -society, -government, -business -and the labor force.

Over Here

The Economy

• Production up 33%• No unemployment• Inflation, but wages up • No strikes

Organizing the Economy

The War Industries Board…

Leader of the WIBBernard Baruch

• Coordinated the purchase of war supplies & provided oversight of production• Encouraged companies to eliminate waste & increase efficiency• Set production quotas for industries producing war supplies

The Food Administration…

Herbert Hoover “Go back to simple food, simple

clothes, simple pleasure”

• Cut consumption & provided food for Europe• Entirely a voluntary program• Modified eating habits: “wheat-less Wednesdays”,

“meat-less Mondays; encouraged home gardening • Hoover used posters & slogans • Very successful...

-Reduced consumption by 15% ...No rationing -Shipments created a surplus that avoided post-war famine in Europe.

The Food Administration…

Changes in social behaviors…

• Cigarette consumption up 600%

Moral Reforms…• The Prohibition Movement… The 18th Amendment gains momentum – Why?• Anti-Prostitution Laws

Raising the Money • WW I costs $33 billion• Money was raised two ways…

-Increased taxes -Selling Liberty Bonds

The Business of War

What was the war time trend towards a bureaucratic state and greater federal

presence?• Rapid industrial expansion created the need

for government oversight &increased bureaucracy

• Corporations grew rapidly• Unprecedented cooperation between

corporations & the government • War production improved the economy

Labor & the WarOrganized labors response to the war…• Total support/ Union membership increased• Workers made big gains: Higher wages &

increased standard of living ...Review the National war Labor Board

Governments response to labor…• The US government needed war supplies & the

labor to produce these supplies• Government accept union demands: 8hr day;

Time & a half ; Equal pay for women

The National War Labor Board• Samuel Gompers was the head of the

American Federation of Labor (AF of L). • As a union leader before the war he

promoted collective bargaining, shorter hours & better wages for the American worker.

• Gompers & the AFL supported WW I • Gompers avoid strikes, boosted worker

morale & raised wages.• Gompers arbitrated disputes between labor &

management to ensure productivity for war production.

- The NWLB was disbanded in 1919.

The National War Labor BoardSamuel Gompers

Objective…Describe how WW I reshaped the role of women in American society.

Over Here

The U.S. Department of LaborWomen In Industry Service (WIS)

• WW I created a labor shortage • The National War Labor Board (NWLB) decided to replace male workers

with female ones. • The WIS was created to...

-Advises companies on how to use female labor.-Attempts to improve working conditions for women… 8hr day, equal pay, rest periods, lunch breaks, providing restrooms.

• In 1920, the WIS was replaced by the Women’s Bureau. The Women’s Bureau became advocates for the welfare of working women.

Leader of the (WIS)Mary Van Kleeck

Women at WorkWhat effect did the war production have on women

workers…• More women entered the work force• Women moved from domestic work to industrial work• During WW I 25% of the work force was female

http://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/progressiveera/ywcaposters.html

Women’s Suffrage

What happened to jobs for women at the war’s end? ...The message from those advocating for female workers quickly changed from “ serve” to “ go back to your traditional roles in society and leave the responsibility of work to the men.”

How did World War I advance the cause of women’s suffrage & the status of women?

…Women demonstrated their capabilities

Prohibition

Describe how the war helped the passage of the 18th Amendment?

• Beer is German ...German culture was unpopular in the WW I era

• Preserve gain to save food ...Alcohol is not a good use of food sources

• Sobriety will increase the productivity of the American worker

• Eliminate social problems...i.e. domestic abuse & poverty

• The desire for hire standards of morality in society

* This relates back to Progressivism and the desire to improve American society.

Public HealthHow did wartime mobilization bring greater government involvement with public health

issues? The public health issues raising a concern... • Sex hygiene (STDS)• Disease control• Child welfare...The war is the priority & these things could interfere with fighting the war.

*This relates back to Progressivism & the desire to use government to improve American society.

1918 Flu Pandemic (Jan. 1918 – Dec. 1920)

• A deadly influenza swept across the world. The 1918 Pandemic infected 500 million people & killed 50-100 million of them (3%-5% of the world's pop... DEAD!) It is considered the most deadly natural disaster in human history.

The US government refused to slow down the

war effort in order to manage the flu