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In What Ways Did the First World War Lead to a Greater Power for the Federal Government?

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Submitted By jackpearce96
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Pages 3
‘I not only use the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow’. Despite expansion during Woodrow Wilson’s first term as president, the federal government on the eve of World War I remained small. Although the federal government meddled in a few areas of economic life, it was for most citizens remote and unimportant. Throughout the essay I shall be examining how the Federal Government gained greater power through the First World War
During the war the government built up the armed forces to strength of four million officers and men. Of those added to the armed forces after the U.S. declaration of war. Men alone, however, did not make an army. They required barracks and training facilities, transportation, food, clothing, and health care. They had to be equipped with modern arms and great stocks of ammunition. I believe that this strengthened the Federal Government because of the fact that they had such a big army due to the amount of conscription during the war, people would be afraid to go against the government in case the army would get involved, therefore giving the government more power over the people.
Another way in which the Federal Government increased its power was through The Espionage Act, June 1917 and The Sedation Act, May 1918. The Espionage Act made it illegal to encourage disloyalty or obstruct military recruitment and could be punished by a big fine or imprisonment of up to 20 years. The first target of the Espionage Act was anti-war labour organisers against conscription. The Sedation act made it illegal to verbally attack the constitution, or the war effort, and one could be arrested for trying to discourage people from buying war bonds. These 2 acts greatly increased the power of government but by doing so it reduced the amount of personal freedom the people had.
The government increased their power by censoring all printed materials,

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