War at Home

The war's impact had far-reaching social changes within the United States while soldiers fought overseas.
- Life did not halt; significant social changes occurred in cities, workplaces, and among voters.
- Soldiers returning home found a transformed society.
Economic and cultural changes affected nearly all racial or ethnic groups.
- German Americans:
- Faced suspicion from fellow citizens.
- Lost connections with their culture.
  - Shutdown of German-language newspapers.
  - Ban on speaking German in public in half the states.
- Dissenters of any background faced similar hostility and government persecution.
Some minority groups experienced positive changes:
- Jewish Americans:
- Previously categorized by their European origins, began to unite for a stronger international role.
- Formulated charities and donated millions to assist war victims.
- Mexican Americans:
- Migrated north from southern and southwestern states seeking job opportunities in factories vacated by enlisted men.
- Women:
- Expanded their roles beyond traditional responsibilities, taking up jobs in factories, offices, or loading docks.

The war years led to enormous changes for African Americans, particularly in the South.
- A combination of natural disasters devastated Southern agriculture, leading to poor job prospects for black farm workers.
The Great Migration:
- Initiated around 1910, marked the movement of African Americans from the South to Northern cities.
- The war facilitated this migration due to the cessation of European immigration and enlistment of white factory workers.
- Over 600,000 African Americans migrated north between 1914 and 1920.
Despite finding opportunities, African Americans faced hostility in industrial centers.
Post-war, the outlook for improved rights was grim:
- The Wilson administration and the Democratic Party were resistant to anti-racism efforts.
- Harsh policies towards black Americans continued in many states.

At the beginning of the 20th century, saloons were prevalent across U.S. cities:
- Served alcoholic drinks and were social gathering spots for working men.
- Women were not allowed entry into saloons and many abstained willingly.
Reform organizations, like the Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, argued that saloons:
- Encouraged drunkenness and financial irresponsibility.
- Many women supported Prohibition to protect families by making liquor illegal.
World War I bolstered the Prohibition movement:
- Grain for beer was needed for food.
- Most brewers were of German descent.
In December 1917, Congress passed the 18th Amendment:
- Prohibited the sale of alcohol in the U.S.
- Ratified in January 1919 following the war.
Congress also enacted the Volstead Act:
- Included measures to enforce Prohibition laws.

Women's demand for voting rights had persisted since the 1840s, with some states allowing voting by 1914.
Post Wilson’s re-election, his support for a constitutional amendment for women’s suffrage seemed inadequate.
In 1917, women picketed the White House, risking imprisonment but continuing their activism.
World War I provided an opportunity for women’s activism:
- Carrie Chapman Catt, a leader in the movement, argued for women as patriotic voters.
- Suggested that enfranchising women would counteract the influence of dissenters at the polls.
The combination of these factors pushed the House of Representatives to pass the 19th Amendment in January 1918:
- The Senate approved it a year later, with ratification by the states in August 1920.
Despite the success of women's suffrage, the post-war environment did not sustain changes for women’s lives:
- They were expected to vacate their jobs for returning soldiers.
- Resumed traditional roles at home.

Towards the end of 1918, a potent strain of influenza, known colloquially as the Spanish flu, spread rapidly across the U.S.
Scientists failed to develop a vaccine before the pandemic's onset:
- Antibiotics were not widely available until around 1940, which exacerbated secondary infections (e.g., pneumonia).
The mortality toll was staggering:
- Over 600,000 Americans died in 1918 and 1919, overwhelming funeral services.
- Most fatalities occurred among people aged 20–40, which was atypical since influenza generally impacts the very young and old.
- This age group included many soldiers and officers.
The outbreak is classified as a pandemic, defined as a sudden widespread disease affecting a vast geographic area with a significant portion of the population:
- By its conclusion in 1920, it claimed more than 50 million lives worldwide.
- An estimated one-third of the global population became infected.
The pandemic weakened the already strained Allied forces and diverted attention from critical social issues, highlighting the vulnerability of humanity to contagious diseases.