Discussion

DiscussionDiscussion

What seems to be the purpose of this What seems to be the purpose of this song?song?

It seems to be a way of motivating men to It seems to be a way of motivating men to volunteer to serve in the war.volunteer to serve in the war.


How can popular entertainment be used How can popular entertainment be used to generate support for a war?to generate support for a war?

Music, films, and other forms of Music, films, and other forms of entertainment may be used to convey entertainment may be used to convey patriotic messages and encourage the patriotic messages and encourage the public to support a war. They may provide public to support a war. They may provide contemporary examples, as appropriate.contemporary examples, as appropriate.


In what ways does the song serve In what ways does the song serve propaganda purposes?propaganda purposes?

It speaks to duty and Yankee pride and It speaks to duty and Yankee pride and making one's parents and sweetheart proud making one's parents and sweetheart proud of your service as a soldier.of your service as a soldier.


Discuss this line from the song: “every son of Discuss this line from the song: “every son of liberty. To whom the line refers and how they liberty. To whom the line refers and how they know. know.

American soldiers, because liberty is a treasured American soldiers, because liberty is a treasured value in America; the Sons of Liberty was a value in America; the Sons of Liberty was a patriotic group in pre-Revolutionary times.patriotic group in pre-Revolutionary times. “Over “Over There” was considered a patriotic song. Patriotic There” was considered a patriotic song. Patriotic movies, speeches, and pamphlets were also movies, speeches, and pamphlets were also common. common.

Managing the EconomyManaging the Economy

Government AgenciesGovernment Agencies Congress created several new federal Congress created several new federal agencies to manage the use of resources. These included the War agencies to manage the use of resources. These included the War Industries Board (WIB), Food Administration, Fuel Administration, and Industries Board (WIB), Food Administration, Fuel Administration, and National War Labor Board (NWLB).National War Labor Board (NWLB).

RationingRationing Agencies encouraged citizens to ration food and energy for Agencies encouraged citizens to ration food and energy for use in the war effort. Americans gave up commodities such as wheat, use in the war effort. Americans gave up commodities such as wheat, meat, and heating fuel on certain days, and grew victory gardens to meat, and heating fuel on certain days, and grew victory gardens to supplement their own food supply.supplement their own food supply.

TaxesTaxes Congress raised income tax rates and established several new Congress raised income tax rates and established several new taxes on business and war profits in order to pay for the war effort.taxes on business and war profits in order to pay for the war effort.

BondsBonds Americans purchased Liberty Bonds and Victory Bonds from Americans purchased Liberty Bonds and Victory Bonds from the government to help fund the war. The government borrowed over the government to help fund the war. The government borrowed over $20 billion through these bonds.$20 billion through these bonds.

Discussion Discussion

How could average citizens support the How could average citizens support the war effort?war effort?

Citizens could conserve food and energy Citizens could conserve food and energy resources for use by soldiers and war resources for use by soldiers and war factories. They could also lend the factories. They could also lend the government money by buying war bonds.government money by buying war bonds.


Why do you think the federal government Why do you think the federal government undertook such wide-scale economic undertook such wide-scale economic and social mobilization?and social mobilization?

The government was determined to take The government was determined to take any steps necessary to help the military any steps necessary to help the military succeed.succeed.

Managing the WorkforceManaging the Workforce

Women in the WorkforceWomen in the Workforce With so many men serving in With so many men serving in the military, employers hired women to fill different types of the military, employers hired women to fill different types of jobs. About one million women entered the workforce, and jobs. About one million women entered the workforce, and an additional eight million took on better industrial jobs.an additional eight million took on better industrial jobs.

African Americans Move NorthAfrican Americans Move North Employers also hired Employers also hired many African Americans from the South to work in many African Americans from the South to work in Northern factories. Hundreds of thousands of African Northern factories. Hundreds of thousands of African Americans settled in cities including Chicago, New York, Americans settled in cities including Chicago, New York, Cleveland, and Detroit, where they began influencing Cleveland, and Detroit, where they began influencing politics and culture.politics and culture.

Mexican Americans MigrateMexican Americans Migrate More than 100,000 More than 100,000 Mexicans moved to take agricultural jobs in the Southwest. Mexicans moved to take agricultural jobs in the Southwest. Many others moved to cities to find manufacturing jobs.Many others moved to cities to find manufacturing jobs.


How did life change for women on the How did life change for women on the home front during World War I?home front during World War I?

Many more women began working outside Many more women began working outside of the home in jobs traditionally held by of the home in jobs traditionally held by men. Students will probably suggest that men. Students will probably suggest that this changed society’s view of women’s this changed society’s view of women’s capabilities and roles.capabilities and roles.


How did life change for African How did life change for African Americans on the home front during Americans on the home front during World War I?World War I?

Hundreds of thousands of African Hundreds of thousands of African Americans left the Deep South for industrial Americans left the Deep South for industrial jobs in the North. In Northern cities, these jobs in the North. In Northern cities, these members of the “Great Migration” could vote members of the “Great Migration” could vote and had greater civil rights.and had greater civil rights.

Shaping Public OpinionShaping Public Opinion

Committee on Public InformationCommittee on Public Information The Committee on Public The Committee on Public Information (CPI) produced pamphlets and paid speakers to Information (CPI) produced pamphlets and paid speakers to encourage Americans to support the war effort.encourage Americans to support the war effort.

Espionage Act of 1917Espionage Act of 1917 Congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917 Congress passed the Espionage Act of 1917 to outlaw helping the enemy, giving false reports, or interfering with the to outlaw helping the enemy, giving false reports, or interfering with the war effort. Socialist Eugene V. Debs was famously arrested under this war effort. Socialist Eugene V. Debs was famously arrested under this law.law.

Sedition Act of 1918 Sedition Act of 1918 The Sedition Act of 1918 prohibited anyone from The Sedition Act of 1918 prohibited anyone from speaking out against the war. This allowed the government to arrest speaking out against the war. This allowed the government to arrest those who criticized government actions.those who criticized government actions.

Anti-German SentimentAnti-German Sentiment The war stirred feelings against German The war stirred feelings against German Americans, labor activists, radicals, and pacifists. Many German Americans, labor activists, radicals, and pacifists. Many German Americans changed their names and avoided speaking German in Americans changed their names and avoided speaking German in public.public.


How were Americans’ rights limited How were Americans’ rights limited during World War I?during World War I?

The government made it illegal to speak out The government made it illegal to speak out against the war effort or criticize the against the war effort or criticize the government, thus limiting citizens’ freedom government, thus limiting citizens’ freedom of speech.of speech.


Do you think that the government was Do you think that the government was right to pass the Sedition Act? Why or right to pass the Sedition Act? Why or why not?why not?

The Sedition Act supported victory in the The Sedition Act supported victory in the war, and citizens have the right to speak out war, and citizens have the right to speak out against wars or government. against wars or government.

Mobilizing the MilitaryMobilizing the Military

Progressive IdealsProgressive Ideals Progressive ideals helped shape Progressive ideals helped shape military recruitment practices. Local draft boards held the military recruitment practices. Local draft boards held the power to decide who was drafted into the army.power to decide who was drafted into the army.

VolunteersVolunteers Some two million men enlisted in the war. Some two million men enlisted in the war. African Americans in the MilitaryAfrican Americans in the Military Hundreds of thousands Hundreds of thousands

of African Americans served in the war, mostly in support of African Americans served in the war, mostly in support roles. About 42,000 soldiers fought overseas in racially roles. About 42,000 soldiers fought overseas in racially segregated units.segregated units.

Women in the MilitaryWomen in the Military For the first time, women served as For the first time, women served as official noncombatants in the U.S. Navy and the Army official noncombatants in the U.S. Navy and the Army Nurse Corps. Women could also serve as auxiliaries.Nurse Corps. Women could also serve as auxiliaries.

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