THE WAR AT HOME

IMPACT OF WW1 ON THE AMERICAN HOMEFRONT

 AMERICA AT THE START OF THE WAR

• April 6, 1917 USA declares war

• Standing army is only 100,000 men at start of 1917.

• Compared to Germany army 3.8 million

• US Army ill prepared to go to war.

• New trainees use wooden sticks in place of rifles to
train, ride barrels instead of horses.

• Wilson’s Primary Problem:

• Mobilizing nation for war.
 SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT

• May 18, 1917- Congress passes Selective Service Act.

• Requires all men between ages 21-30 to register for military

service.
• Within 3 months 10 million men register.
• 28 million register by end of war.
• 2.8 million are drafted to serve.

• President Wilson says a draft is the most democratic form of

building army.
SELECTIVE SERVICE TODAY

• All men between 18-25 who are US Citizens or

immigrants living in US are required to register within 30
days of turning 18.

• Women are not currently required to register.

• Transgender:
• Male who has changed to female - Yes
• Female who has changed to male - No
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Do you agree or disagree that the American government has the right to draft/conscript
men into the armed forces in times of war?

• Do you agree with Wilson that the draft is the most “democratic” way of raising an army?
If you disagree, how would you do it?

• Do you think women should be excluded from the draft and/or combat today? Why or
why not?
 WINNING THE WAR AT HOME

• Committee on Public Information (CPI)

• Agency created to influence public opinion to support WW1 efforts.
• 1st modern government sponsored propaganda office in US history.
• Hired actors, artists, public speakers, writers etc. to increase
patriotism & support for war and to buy war bonds.

• Propaganda: information, especially of a biased or misleading nature,

used to promote or publicize a particular cause or point of view.
DISCUSSION QUESTION

• Do you think the government has the “right” to create a propaganda office to sway
American minds? Why or why not?

• In this age of “fake news,” Presidents using social media, and people getting their
information from Twitter…how do you think propaganda is used today? In what ways do
you see it influencing your life?
 ESPIONAGE & SEDITION ACTS

• June 1917 Espionage Act passed:

• You cannot aid enemy or refuse military service. Cannot convey
information that will hurt war effort.

• May 1918 Sedition Act passed:

• Makes it illegal to “utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal or abusive
language” criticizing government, flag, constitution, or military.
• Targets socialists, pacifists, anti-war advocates
• Repealed in 1921.
SCHENCK VS. UNITED STATES

• Socialist Charles Schenck distributes anti-war pamphlets attacking US

policies.
• Convicted under espionage and sedition acts.
• Appeals to Supreme Court.
• Claims violation of Freedom of Speech.

• Supreme Court rules against him. Claims that:

• US government may limit free speech if that speech creates a “clear and
present danger” to society.
• Establish precedent that “rights” are not absolute.
• Example: Can’t yell “fire” in crowded place.
DISCUSSION QUESTION

• Do you think the government has the right to censor or restrict rights during wartime?
Why or why not?

• Do you think there should be restrictions against your First Amendment right to Free
Speech? Why or why not?