WWI in the PNW

* The economic boom

  - lots of resources needed

    -> spruce, grain, coal, etc.

    -> created many jobs and tightened employment

       => men away at war freed up even more jobs

  - shipbuilding became a major industry

    -> 35,000 in Seattle alone employed

  - some farmers and labor unions attempted to benefit from tough

    times

    -> raise wages for lumberjacks that had been lowered

    -> IWW (Wobblies) opposed war and sought better wages

       => often accused of being German agents unfairly

    -> farmers sought "progressive" producer cooperative arrangements

       => called the Nonpartisan League

       => fought viciously by government and big business

* The social effects

  - women getting more jobs

    -> taking jobs as operators, clerks, secretaries

    -> a few women got light industry jobs

  - immigrants treated with suspicion

    -> German and Austrian immigrants especially

    -> pressured to buy Liberty Bonds to prove loyalty

  - union-busting laws passed

    -> laws to oppose "criminal syndicalism"

       => making it illegal to ADVOCATE violent protest

  - conscription created ties and a sense of people

    -> meeting people in the 91st division

    -> sort of like a regional sports team in loyalty

* general effects

  - accidental timber industry reform

    -> The spruce division broke the timber union strike, but led to

       reform

       => eight- hour day, shower facilities, clean bunkhouses

  - Boeing gets its small start

  - Spanish Flu breaks out

    -> ravaged the world (20-40 million killed)

  - a general depression followed WWI armistice

    -> decline in need for weapons

    -> soldiers returned

    -> production resumed in war-torn areas