Effects of World War I on Agriculture

Arbella B. Smith was born in North Georgia in 1880 and lived there all her life. She lived on a farm with her husband and four children. Arbella filled the gender roles during this time; she cooked, cleaned, and raised her children. Arbella lived through both the First and Second World Wars, which greatly affected farmers in the United States. During this time, Europe was being torn apart and the Allies relied heavily on the United States to supply them with food. Because of this, Arbella's husband, Elias C. Smith, was very busy during the First World War and was able to use the free labor of his sons to work on the farm. Due to the high demand for crops during WWI, farmers like the Smiths prospered across the United States. Not only were farmers affected by the First World War, but so was the average US citizen. US citizens were encouraged to conserve food and grow their own gardens, known as victory gardens, in order to help the US troops in Europe. Although farmers were very profitable during the First World War, the end of the War left farmers and agriculture distraught due to the steep drop in demand. This led to strikes and government intervention to alleviate the anxieties surrounding the low demand for crops. World War I changed agriculture in the United States forever and left a legacy filled with prosperity, patriotism, and anxieties.