3 hours, 4 pages, 1 F
comments and corrections appreciated. thanks.
Megan Laffey
APUS
Mr. Taylor
30 January 2006
World War One and Its Effects on Prohibition, Women’s Suffrage, Business and Race Relations in The United States
World War One, which lasted from 1914-1918, signaled vast amounts of change within the United States. Although many groups and movements remained failure and division after the war, others saw success and progress. During World War One, businesses, racial minorities, the women’s suffrage movement and prohibition all saw change of varying degrees as a result of the war.
Throughout the war, business and the government retained a close relationship. It was this relationship that caused business to flourish during the war and dominate for the decade following the war. Prior to World War I, the American economy had been in a recession. However, when war broke out, The United States and The Allies all ordered supplies from America. Because of this, American business thrived and its exports to England and France alone increased 365%. Also helping business during the war were loans from private American banks to finance American trade with allies, the government’s suspension of Anti-Trust Laws, and the signing of cost-plus contracts. These actions eliminated competition and allowed business to take off and profit like it had never done before. At one point during the war, the government even had industrial committees, which were coincidently headed by leading American businessmen, to supply economic advice to the Wilson administration. These committees, because businessmen led them, had businesses interests alone in mind when operating. While these committees allowed the businessmen to further their business endeavors and increase their profits, they were not popular with the public and eventually disbanded. Despite the break up of the committees, trade associations between the government and businesses continued to grow. In addition, there were numerous government agencies, led by prominent businessmen, which controlled the American economy and shifted much of the nation’s resources to the production or supplies for the military of the United States as well as those of the allies. One of these government agencies, The War Industries Board, did much of the government’s control of business and price setting. However, because the WIB relied so heavily on the advice of businessmen, those who they were attempting to control, it never gained much power and was disbanded after the armistice. As a result of the close relationship between business and government, increase production, and the elimination of competition during the war, businessmen and their businesses were able to flourish.
While racial minorities in the United States saw some positive change during the war, they faced many more hindrances. Their ethnic heritage and skin color was constantly being pointed out and separating them from whites and their opportunities. 18% of enlistees in the military were members of foreign-born ethnic minorities. While serving, they were in segregated units and assigned to menial labor. Because of this, they often felt alienated. African Americas were particularly subject to this mistreatment in the service. The anger resulting from this racial segregation led African American soldiers to rise up in 1917 in Houston, Texas killing sixteen whites. Despite the racism that blacks faces, W.E.B. Du Bois and the NAACP supported the war in hopes that it would promote democracy and fairness as well as blur the line between white and black. However, not all blacks were supportive and many thought that African-American service would do nothing for their race, as happened in the Spanish-American war. Also as a result of racism, African Americans residing in the South migrated north in search of better treatment. But, like in past attempts at acceptance, northern whites did not accept them either. “The Negro Invasion” inspired northern whites to participate in race riots in 1919, which later became known as the “Red Summer.” Despite the racism that African Americans and all racial minorities faced, they did see improvements as a result of the war in one area: the workplace. Because a majority of the workforce was gone to war, businesses were desperate to hire anyone. Thus, minorities receive slightly better jobs and treatment at work. Although racial minorities did see some change as a result of the war, it was minimal. Rather than blur the color lines within the U.S., the war seemed to point them out even more.
While women were also a minority, they saw much more progress as a result of the war than African Americans and other minorities did. They were even able to achieve their long-standing goal of suffrage as a result of changes caused by the war. When vast amounts of men left their jobs to fight in the war, many women filled the positions of men, taking over their jobs. In doing so, women proved their worth and abilities in society. As a result they were offered more opportunities and gained more rights. Furthermore, the 20th amendment passed granting women the right to vote in 1920. Women used their right to vote to progress even further. Because women could participate in elections, acts such as the Sheppard-Towner Act, which provided funds to set up maternity and pediatric clinics, and the Cable Act, which allowed women who married a foreigner to retain their U.S. citizenship, were able to pass. Women used the war to heighten their social status in order to progress and create positive change for themselves.
Another movement that saw success as a result of the war was the prohibition of alcohol. During the war, there was a self-sacrificing and moral attitude that spread throughout the United States. As a result, a law was passed requiring all men in uniform to abstain from drinking. Also, the 18th amendment, which prohibited the sale, distribution, and consumption of alcohol, was upheld in response to the wartime morality. Because of the nation’s overall position of supporting ethics during the war, prohibition was often supported.
During the years between 1914 and 1918, America as a whole saw much change as a direct result of I. Businesses, racial minorities; women and the prohibition were no exception to this nationwide transformation. Although some saw substantial change and others struggled to progress, they were all in one way or another affected by World War I.
Megan Laffey
APUS
Mr. Taylor
30 January 2006
World War One and Its Effects on Prohibition, Women’s Suffrage, Business and Race Relations in The United States
World War One, which lasted from 1914-1918, signaled vast amounts of change within the United States. Although many groups and movements remained failure and division after the war, others saw success and progress. During World War One, businesses, racial minorities, the women’s suffrage movement and prohibition all saw change of varying degrees as a result of the war.
Throughout the war, business and the government retained a close relationship. It was this relationship that caused business to flourish during the war and dominate for the decade following the war. Prior to World War I, the American economy had been in a recession. However, when war broke out, The United States and The Allies all ordered supplies from America. Because of this, American business thrived and its exports to England and France alone increased 365%. Also helping business during the war were loans from private American banks to finance American trade with allies, the government’s suspension of Anti-Trust Laws, and the signing of cost-plus contracts. These actions eliminated competition and allowed business to take off and profit like it had never done before. At one point during the war, the government even had industrial committees, which were coincidently headed by leading American businessmen, to supply economic advice to the Wilson administration. These committees, because businessmen led them, had businesses interests alone in mind when operating. While these committees allowed the businessmen to further their business endeavors and increase their profits, they were not popular with the public and eventually disbanded. Despite the break up of the committees, trade associations between the government and businesses continued to grow. In addition, there were numerous government agencies, led by prominent businessmen, which controlled the American economy and shifted much of the nation’s resources to the production or supplies for the military of the United States as well as those of the allies. One of these government agencies, The War Industries Board, did much of the government’s control of business and price setting. However, because the WIB relied so heavily on the advice of businessmen, those who they were attempting to control, it never gained much power and was disbanded after the armistice. As a result of the close relationship between business and government, increase production, and the elimination of competition during the war, businessmen and their businesses were able to flourish.
While racial minorities in the United States saw some positive change during the war, they faced many more hindrances. Their ethnic heritage and skin color was constantly being pointed out and separating them from whites and their opportunities. 18% of enlistees in the military were members of foreign-born ethnic minorities. While serving, they were in segregated units and assigned to menial labor. Because of this, they often felt alienated. African Americas were particularly subject to this mistreatment in the service. The anger resulting from this racial segregation led African American soldiers to rise up in 1917 in Houston, Texas killing sixteen whites. Despite the racism that blacks faces, W.E.B. Du Bois and the NAACP supported the war in hopes that it would promote democracy and fairness as well as blur the line between white and black. However, not all blacks were supportive and many thought that African-American service would do nothing for their race, as happened in the Spanish-American war. Also as a result of racism, African Americans residing in the South migrated north in search of better treatment. But, like in past attempts at acceptance, northern whites did not accept them either. “The Negro Invasion” inspired northern whites to participate in race riots in 1919, which later became known as the “Red Summer.” Despite the racism that African Americans and all racial minorities faced, they did see improvements as a result of the war in one area: the workplace. Because a majority of the workforce was gone to war, businesses were desperate to hire anyone. Thus, minorities receive slightly better jobs and treatment at work. Although racial minorities did see some change as a result of the war, it was minimal. Rather than blur the color lines within the U.S., the war seemed to point them out even more.
While women were also a minority, they saw much more progress as a result of the war than African Americans and other minorities did. They were even able to achieve their long-standing goal of suffrage as a result of changes caused by the war. When vast amounts of men left their jobs to fight in the war, many women filled the positions of men, taking over their jobs. In doing so, women proved their worth and abilities in society. As a result they were offered more opportunities and gained more rights. Furthermore, the 20th amendment passed granting women the right to vote in 1920. Women used their right to vote to progress even further. Because women could participate in elections, acts such as the Sheppard-Towner Act, which provided funds to set up maternity and pediatric clinics, and the Cable Act, which allowed women who married a foreigner to retain their U.S. citizenship, were able to pass. Women used the war to heighten their social status in order to progress and create positive change for themselves.
Another movement that saw success as a result of the war was the prohibition of alcohol. During the war, there was a self-sacrificing and moral attitude that spread throughout the United States. As a result, a law was passed requiring all men in uniform to abstain from drinking. Also, the 18th amendment, which prohibited the sale, distribution, and consumption of alcohol, was upheld in response to the wartime morality. Because of the nation’s overall position of supporting ethics during the war, prohibition was often supported.
During the years between 1914 and 1918, America as a whole saw much change as a direct result of I. Businesses, racial minorities; women and the prohibition were no exception to this nationwide transformation. Although some saw substantial change and others struggled to progress, they were all in one way or another affected by World War I.