The United States at War (WWI p. 3)

​The United States at War

• By the time the US entered the war, the Allies were in desperate condition

• To provide supplies for the Allies, Americans had to quickly make major changes

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The United States at War

Preparing the Military

• When the US entered the war, its military consisted of about 128,000
  full-time soldiers

• For the first time since the Civil War, the nation resorted to a draft

  • Under the Selective Service Act, local draft boards were established under civilian leadership to supply men for service

• In 1917 all men ages 21 to 30 were required to register for the draft

Preparing the Military

• In 1918 the bracket expanded to include those 18 to 45 years old 

  • Altogether 2.8 million men were drafted into the army while hundreds of thousands volunteered to serve

• The United States sent huge shipments of troops and supplies to Europe

  • To ensure safe arrival, US ships carrying soldiers traveled in groups called convoys

  • They were protected by naval vessels

  • This dramatically reduced the loss of ships

• The convoy system worked so well that none of the ships carrying American soldiers bound for Europe were sunk

• Although American manpower boosted Allied morale, America’s biggest contribution was providing supplies for the Allies 

• Food, clothing, and equipment from the United States poured into Europe

• The War Industries Board organized industrial production

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Preparing at Home

Preparing at Home

• Factories were transformed to produce needed war materials

• The Fuel Administration had the job of conserving fuel and directing the nation’s use of it

• With Allied armies facing starvation, increasing America’s food production became a top priority 

• Americans were asked to observe “meatless Tuesdays,” “Wheatless Wednesdays,” and “Porkless Saturdays”

Preparing at Home

• Many Americans also grew their own vegetables in “Victory Gardens” so that more food would be available for soldiers 

• The war also brought changes in the United States’ workforce

• Greater numbers of women began to work outside the home

• The labor shortage made wages skyrocket, and more jobs became available

• President Wilson wanted Americans to believe that their cause was just

• He founded the Committee on Public Information to unite Americans behind the war effort

Informing the Public

Informing the Public

• Committee on Public Information

  • Headed by journalist George Creel, 150,000 people became involved in a broad propaganda crusade to “advertise America”

  • An army of lecturers appeared at local assemblies and in silent movies

  • “Four-minute men” gave short talks on any number of patriotic topics and moved crowds to cheers or tears

  • Americans’ attitude toward the Central Powers, even toward things distantly related to them, became negative

• Most Americans soon hated all things German

• The cost of the war was enormous

• About one-fourth of the money came from the new income tax and taxes on business 

• Most of the remainder was raised by selling war bonds, also known as
  “Liberty Loans”

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Raising Money