World War I: Home Front Overview

Mobilization

• U.S. mobilization began in 1917 as Germany pressed for victory.

• Wilson's administration created wartime agencies, impacting future New Deal programs.

Public Opinion

• Government used propaganda through the Committee on Public Information to garner support and promote patriotism.

Civil Liberties

• Espionage Act (1917) & Sedition Act (1918) restricted free speech, leading to prosecutions for anti-war sentiments (e.g., Eugene Debs).

• Schenck v. United States (1919): upheld limits on free speech if posing "clear and present danger."

• Nativist campaigns targeted minorities, especially Germans, and resulted in discriminatory hiring practices.

Armed Forces

• African Americans: Nearly 400,000 served in segregated units; Great Migration (1910-1930) saw ~1 million migrate to northern cities for jobs.

• Mexicans: Migration increased due to job opportunities and the Mexican Revolution.

Effects on American Society

• Influenza Pandemic (1918): Global outbreak late in the year killed 500,000-675,000 Americans, spread rapidly in military camps.

• Demobilization: Returning soldiers faced unemployment, causing economic stress and inflation.

• War outcomes drained the progressive spirit; society sought a return to "normalcy" in the 1920s, resisting social changes and immigration.

Postwar Problems

• 1919 prompted anti-Communist hysteria through fears of labor unrest and immigrant radicalism.

• Palmer Raids: Mass arrests of suspected radicals and deportations, leading to a crackdown on civil liberties.

• Series of strikes in 1919 reflected tensions between workers, unions, and public sentiment.

• Postwar tensions fueled racial riots and the revival of the Ku Klux Klan; notable events included East St. Louis and Chicago riots.