Suffering Untill Suffrage and Forging a War Economy

In the same area 100 years ago fighting of the most vicious nature was occuring, today there are cycling races (Paris-Nice) that include members from both Central Powers and Allies. Here, Thomas De Gendt wins this years opener in a time of 4:04 over the 154.8 KM stage in Belgian.

32. World War I split the women's movement by creating two sides. One side of women rushed to fill men's jobs on the assembly line (many men were now in the trenches) and the other, Progressive Era feminists, were inclined to oppose both American participation and women's roles in the war.

33. War mobilization gave new momentum to the suffrage movement. Woodrow Wilson endorsed suffrage as "a vitally necessary war measure" The vote for suffrage began to catch on on the state level (places like New York, Oklahoma, and Michigan) The 19th amendment was finally passed (this amendment gave all women the right to vote) in 1920.

34. Congress affirmed their support of the traditional role of women by passing the Sheppard- Towner Act of 1921. The Act provided federally financed instruction in maternal and infant health care.

Forging A War Economy

35. The effort to create a "war economy" in the US (meaning maximum efficiency) relied heavily upon the heated American patriotism rather than cool laws.

36. The 18th amendment (prohibition of alcohol) was passed in a unique way. Congress was restricting the use of foodstuffs to be made in alcoholic beverages and a spirit of self denial was sweeping the country. Also, German-Americans were often brewers and this was a way to hurt them personally.

37. The governmen'ts approach to mobilizing a war time economy through patriotism and volunteering worked. Farm production increased by 25% and food exports to the Allis tripled in volume. Herbert Hoover had worked a miracle by getting people to participate by giving up of their own surplus or saving more resources to help the Allies.

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