Why Did America Join The War Research Paper

Joining the war not only meant that the United States had to build an army, but their industries had to convert to war productions. The United States had to manage their food supplies, for food production decreased greatly in Europe during World War I. Wilson formed a new Food Administration, headed by Herbert Hoover. His job was to manage the distribution of food for civilians and troops and its prices, saying, “Food will win the war.” The government launched propaganda and campaigns to encourage Americans to reduce their food budgets and consumption, as well as focusing on the production of food for soldiers overseas. Propaganda posters depicted food as “ammunition,” allowing the Americans at home to join the fight by decreasing their consumption …show more content…
Because of the war, demands increased, including orders for two million rifles and 130 million pairs of socks. However, America still was unable to provide Allied troops with military equipment. To solve this, Wilson established the War Industries Board, or WIB, which was led by Bernard Baruch. The purpose of the WIB was to manage the purchase of war supplies. Initially, the WIB had little power due to Wilson’s lack of trust. However, in 1918, the board was granted the rights to distribute supplies and change prices. Industries were instructed on what to produce and how much to charge. Another agency was the Women’s Land Army of America, or WLAA. This organization consisted of over 20,000 women who would work on rural farms. To prevent any disputes in the labor force that would disrupt production, Wilson established the National War Labor Board in 1918, headed by William Howard Taft. Taft’s job was to retain order in the labor unions and settle disputes between any workers. The war resulted in the shortage of workers, for millions of men enlisted in the army. Also, the WIB, along with other agencies, created many job opportunities, about 500,000 to 1 million new jobs. Workers from the South and Midwest moved to work in factories of the East. 110,000 workers from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were brought into the country. Women and African Americans joined industries that had previously denied them. Some women worked in factories, producing textiles and ammunition. African Americans were eager to join the labor force in hope of earning money and escaping segregation. About 6 million African Americans moved out of the South for job opportunities, which is known as the Great