PREPARING FOR WAR
PRERANA RAMADURGUM
Civilian Contribution
Congress initiated several laws to encourage conservation of the nation's resources. Hoover's Food Administration encouraged things like "meatless Tuesdays" and "wheatless Wednesdays" and through this raised the food production by 25% and tripled the amount of food being sent to the Allies. Congress also restricted alcoholic production to save resources. They created the War Industries Board and National War Labor Board to assist in connecting the government with civilian producers.
Paying for the War
During the war, the government sold war bonds or "Liberty Bonds." This money would go to the war effort and the government would pay it back with interest. The Treaty of Versailles also included that Germany and Austria-Hungary would pay for some of the cost.
Laws Passed
Propaganda was a powerful weapon during the Great War. The Committee on Public Information created a resentment to all things Germany. The Espionage Act of 1917 established that anyone that tried to work against the US and their war plans would be convicted with 20 years in prison and $10,000 in crimes. To extend the powers of the Espionage Act, Congress created the Sedition Act of 1918 which made it illegal to speak or print anything against the United States or the Constitution. Both of theses caused dissension among the citizens, especially because the second restricted the First Amendment.
Soldiers Training
During this war, soldiers were drafted from the ages of 20 to 35. However, at certain periods, the age was reduced to 18 and extended to 45. The soldiers would only be trained for a few weeks before being deployed. There were even units of African Americans, although they did not hold much rank, that served their nation well.