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Mobilization of America for World War I

  • Historical Context

    • The departure of "doughboys" to France initiated a period of mobilization at home in America.

    • Elsie Janis, an actress and performer, described this time as the most exciting of her life, stating:

    • "The war was my high spot, and I think there is only one real peak in each life."

  • Janis' Contributions

    • Janis volunteered for war work, using her talents to perform and raise funds for the war effort.

    • She entertained U.S. troops overseas, performing more than 600 shows in 15 months, with up to nine performances in a single day.

    • Her role was significant as she was one of the first female entertainers authorized close to the front lines.

  • Women's Workforce Participation

    • With many men overseas, women filled labor shortages in various industries:

    • Factories seeking workers commonly advertised with "Women Wanted" notices.

    • Desperate measures included using airplanes to drop job advertisements in cities like Bridgeport, Connecticut.

    • New occupations for women emerged, including typists, cashiers, and assembly line workers in industries like explosives, machinery, and automobiles.

    • Many women demonstrated their capabilities, leading to a perception that these roles could be permanent, even if many were forced to vacate them post-war.

Opposition to the War

  • General Sentiment

    • President Woodrow Wilson recognized varied responses to the war call, with European pacifists and prominent figures like Henry Ford advocating against U.S. involvement.

    • Ford funded a voyage of pacifists to Europe in 1914 to promote peace.

  • Key Pacifist Figures

    • Jeannette Rankin:

    • First female Congress member and lifelong pacifist, advocated for a U.S. stance against war to set a global example.

    • Jane Addams:

    • Led a women's peace conference in 1915, forming the Woman's Peace Party aimed at limiting arms and mediating the conflict.

    • The party grew but later fractured post-war entry.

    • Demonstration of conscientious objection by young men who refused military service based on moral or religious grounds.

Propaganda and Public Sentiment

  • Government's Use of Propaganda

    • The Committee on Public Information (CPI), led by George Creel, aimed to persuade the public of the war's necessity through propaganda.

    • It included efforts such as:

    • Production of films depicting Germans negatively, e.g., The Kaiser, Beast of Berlin.

    • Distribution of pamphlets and speeches by "Four-Minute Men" trained speakers who delivered patriotic short speeches promoting support for the war.

    • CPI engaged 75,000 speakers, effectively reaching millions.

  • Public Support Initiatives

    • Community-wide efforts, with families supporting the war through recycling materials and creating goods for soldiers, demonstrated strong nationalistic fervor:

    • Events like loyalty parades and community collections of materials were common.

Financial and Economic Aspects

  • War Funding

    • The cost of the war was approximately $35.5 billion, with one-fourth sourced from increased taxation.

    • The War Revenue Act raised income taxes, dramatically increasing the number of tax-paying citizens from 437,000 in 1916 to 4.4 million by 1918.

    • Liberty Bonds were promoted heavily, with celebrities encouraging sales.

  • Shifts in Industry

    • The establishment of the War Industries Board (WIB) resulted in an organized transition of industries to focus on war materials with Bernard Baruch directing the board.

    • The WIB affected consumer goods, with fashion adapting due to material restrictions.

    • Labor unions cooperated with government efforts to mitigate disputes, resulting in enhanced working standards and expanded job opportunities.