Download Mobilizing for War: Winning (or Losing

Winning (or Losing?) the Hearts and Minds of Americans: Mobilizing for the Great War
Read the descriptions of the programs created to help the United States mobilize for war. Label the efforts with the appropriate
symbol(s). Some programs could have more that one symbol. Be sure to explain why in the why column.
 P= if it helped to mobilize people
 $= if it helped to pay for the war
 M= if it helped to produce the materials needed to fight the war
 USA= if it helped to promote the cause and generate support for the war
 ?= if you think this government program might cause problems
War Time Program
Revenue Act of 1917: To help pay for the costs of mobilization, the act imposed a tax of 63% on
the nation’s largest incomes. In addition, it taxed all business profits that were considered to be
“excessive.”
Selective Service Act (SSA): registered over 24 million men, between the ages of 18 and 45,
for service in the United States military. Married men and men with dependents were exempted
from military service.
War Industries Board (WIB): created by the government to help coordinate the American
economy for wartime production. The board allocated raw materials to companies, established
production priorities, and encouraged businesses to use mass production techniques to help
reduce the waste of precious resources. The WIB would threaten companies with military
takeover if they refused to comply with the quotas they set. As a result American production rose
20% and corporate profits soared as the American economy supplied both the Allies and
themselves.
National War Labor Board (NWLB): Contained representatives from organized labor,
business, and the public. Members were responsible for mediating labor disputes, protect
workers rights to fair wages and hours, and ensure collective bargaining. Was created to reduce
class conflict that could lead to strikes or lockouts.
Fuel Administration (FA): organized by the government to help ration coal, heating oil, and
gasoline. Promoted such programs as “gasless Sundays,” “heatless Monday’s” and “lightless
nights.” In addition, the FA created Daylight savings time to take advantage of summer weather
and help conserve fuel.
Food Administration (FA): Created by the government to manage United States agriculture
to produce food for US troops and allies overseas. The agency engaged in a massive publicity
campaign asking Americans to believe in the “gospel of the clean plate.” To conserve food for the
troops, the FA promoted “Meatless Mondays, Sweetless Saturdays, Wheatless Wednesdays, and
Porkless Tuesdays.” Americans were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens to grow their own
vegetables and school children planted gardens in city parks to help provide more food for the
war effort. President Wilson even joined the effort to save food by allowing a flock of sheep to
pasture on the White House lawn.
Committee on Public Information (CPI): Many Americans felt that the war was a European
problem and not an American one. In an effort to develop support the government created the
CPI. Headed by George Creel, thus called the Creel Committee, the CPI published over 100
million pieces of literature. Books, articles, slides, movies, paintings, posters, cartoons, and
Purpose
(Symbol)
Why that symbol?
sculptures communicated the patriotism necessary to win the war in Europe. Theaters showed
films like, The Kaiser: Beast of Berlin, and To Hell with the Kaiser to stir American passions. In
addition, the CPI hired 75,000 “Four Minute Men” to give speeches on bonds, the draft,
rationing, victory gardens, and why the war was necessary. Over 7.5 million speeches were given
to over 314 million Americans. Finally, the CPI distributed 7 million copies of How War Came to
America, and 60 million pamphlets in English, Swedish, Polish, Dutch, Italian, Spanish,
Czechoslovakian, and Portuguese, to help drum up support for the war.
Espionage and Sedition Acts-Passed in 1917, these acts levied a fine of up to $10,000 and/or
20 years in prison for interfering with the draft, the sale of war bonds, or saying anything disloyal.
In addition, any profane, abusive or disloyal speech about the government, the war effort, the
Constitution, the flag, or the military was made illegal. Finally, the acts allowed the Postmaster
General to stop/ban any mail that was considered treasonous. Over 6,000 arrests, 1,200
convictions, numerous deportations, and the removal of the mailing privileges for 45 newspapers
were direct results of these acts. Most of the arrests and convictions were of socialist and labor
leaders and banned newspapers were anti-British, pro-Irish, and socialist in nature.
Liberty Loans- Using slogans like “Halt the Hun,” four Liberty Loan drives helped the United
States Government net over $21 billion dollars to help pay for the costs of the war. The
remainder of the funds came from the sale of “Liberty Stamps” to children and a dramatic
increase in the Federal income tax.
The Committee on Public Information has asked you to develop a speech to be performed by “Four Minute Men” all across the
nation. The speech must focus on the efforts by the government to win prepare for the war. Your speech should be full of
PERSUASIVE ADJECTIVES, 5-7 sentences, and specifically address any two of the following:
 Liberty Loans
 War Industries Board
 National War Labor Board
 Selective Service Act