WWI the Home Front1915 May, 7: Lusitania1916 Wilson re-elected “He Kept Us Out of War”1917 Zimmermann note 1917 Russia pulls out due to revolution1917 April 2, US enters war 1917 May, Selective Service Act “I Want You for

U.S Army”24 million men registered by end of war in 19182 million reached Europe ¾ saw actionMost uneducated and 1-5 foreign born

Home Front1917 (WIB) War Industries Board

Encouraged companies to use mass production to increase efficiency Applied price control at wholesale level causing retail to rise

1917 RR Administration controlled 1917 Espionage Act1918 Sedition Act (hey what about the First Amendment?)

Not good to be a Socialist or Union member (Industrial Workers of the World)

Eugene V. Debs ten year prison for speaking out

1918 Fuel Administration introduce “daylight savings” to extend daylight

1918 National War Labor Board “Work or fight” Improved factory conditions, shorter days, safety

Home FrontFood Administration: “gospel of the clean plate” ration of

food such as meat, wheat, pork, sugarVictory Gardens: homeowners and school childrenPaying for the war: $35.5 Billion

Progressive income tax (tax higher income at higher rate than low income)

War profit tax Excise taxes (tobacco, liquor and luxury goods) Public borrowing by selling “Liberty Loans” and “Victory Loans”

Propaganda Great Migration: greatest impact on African American lives

Escape racial discrimination in south Jobs opportunity (Ford started hiring AA in 1914) Still faced discrimination in North by immigrants in cities

Women Filled men’s jobs: RR workers, cooks, dockworkers, bricklayers,

miners, shipbuilding. Nurses, clerks and teachers Volunteered at Red Cross Sold bonds

Children

1919 Nineteenth Amendment passed and ratified 1920 women could now vote.