US Homefront in WWI

When the war started in 1914, President
Wilson announced a policy of

,

refusing to take sides in the war. He hoped
that the United States would continue to
trade with warring nations. Many in the
government felt there was no reason for the
U.S. to intervene with European affairs.
Also, Wilson was aware of the huge
immigrant populationsthat came from the
nations at war.
News of the horrors of the war confirmed to
the government that they had adopted the
right approach. The majority of Americans
supported neutrality. A popular song, “I
Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier,”
expressed the anti-war sentiment of the
nation.

Neutrality

U.S. Losses to the German Submarine

Campaign, 1916-1918

Open Ended

Why would American ships be targeted by German submarines?

In 1917, the United States had to mobilize for
war. It faced enormous challenges.

Increasing

the size of its

army

Managing
agriculture
and industry

Shaping

public opinion

of the war

Mobilizing for War

The U.S. Army was not ready for war. The government began a draft to meet
its need for troops. In May 1917, Congress passed the Selective Service Act.
This act required all males between the ages of 21 and 30 to sign up for military
service. By the end of 1918, nearly 3 million men had been drafted.

The war also brought more government control of the economy. President
Wilson set up the War Industries Board to produce needed war supplies. The
Board managed the buying and distribution of war materials and set prices and
factory production goals.

Americans
were able to
increase
production
and meet
the new
demands of
the wartime
economy.

Mobilizing for War

World War I cost the United States $35.5
billion. By comparison, the current War
in Iraq has cost the United States an
estimated $490 trillion, and the cost is
rising everyday.

Americans helped to pay for World
War I by buying government war
bonds.

were low-interest

loans meant to be repaid in a number of
years. Liberty Loan drives, posters, and
Hollywood stars helped to sell bonds.

World War I was a national effort.
Children rolled bandages and collected
useful scrap. Women’s groups knit
socks and sweaters for the troops.
People all over the country saved food
by observing wheatless Mondays and
Wednesdays and meatless Tuesdays.

Rationing

Propaganda
posters urged
Americans to
help defeat
Germany.

Open Ended

How do propaganda posters help shape public opinion?

Intolerance & Suspicion

did much to win

support for the war. But its anti-German,
anti-foreign message also fueled prejudice.
Towns across America with German sounding
names changed their names. Sauerkraut
became “liberty cabbage,” hamburger became
“Salisbury steak,” and German shepherds
became “police dogs.”

Congress passed the

and the

. These laws set heavy fines and

long prison terms for antiwar activities and
resisting the draft. The laws even made it
illegal to criticize the war. Hundreds went
to jail.

In the 1919 decision in Schenck v. United
States, the Supreme Court upheld the
Espionage Act. Charles Schenck was
convicted of distributing pamphlets against
the draft and spent ten years in prison.