Mobilization: Industry and Labor; Finance (apr 22, 1917 – nov 1, 1918)

Description:

After declaring war on Germany, Wilson’s administration had to move with unprecedented speed to create wartime agencies and commissions to manage the country’s additional wartime functions in order to mobilize the country’s Industry and Labor before Germany could deal a deadly strike. Among the new organizations established during this time were the War Industries Board run by Wall Street broker Bernard Baruch (which managed the nation’s production priorities and centralized control over raw materials and prices), the Food Administration run by illustrious engineer - and soon-to-be president - Herbert Hoover (which encouraged Americans to eat less in order to conserve food to help with the war efforts), the Fuel Administration (which encouraged measures to reduce the use of coal so that it could instead be used in the war), the Railroad Administration (which took public control of the railroads), and the National War Labor Board headed by former president William Howard Taft (which mediated disagreements between employers and laborers – and it should be noted that several of the concessions made greatly benefited the laborers). Wilson’s administration also needed to figure out a way to raise vast sums of money quickly in order to finance the war, and they managed to do just that by pushing Congress to increase personal income and corporate taxes, as well as levying an excise tax on luxury goods. Moreover, the administration led four nationwide drives to encourage American citizens to buy Liberty Bonds from the federal government using their savings.

Added to timeline:

Date: