How the Federal Bureaucracy Expanded During WWI?

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Table of Contents

Abstract
Introduction
Role of Politics-Congress
Economic Hardships
Change of Leadership
Gilded Age Millionaires

Abstract

The federal bureaucracy in the US registered tremendous developments during the First World War. Many analysts observe that the modern era of the system of government is said to have started after the war since many people joined the government as compared to the previous trend, where only a few had the chances to serve their country at the top level.

During the First World War, the bureaucracy, whose headquarters was in Washington, spent more money on employee salaries as opposed to fifty years earlier, when the national treasury never considered civil servants salaries a matter of concern.

Introduction

The role of the bureaucracy was expansive during the war since the state was expected to provide many services to the citizens, something that led to the formulation of stronger rules and regulations to guide the conduct and behavior of bureaucrats, given the fact their decisions affected a wider society. The state had to deal with the new challenge of survivors of the war, with the majority being the immigrants from Europe escaping inhuman mistreatment from their governments and despotic leaders.

The government had to establish offices to check into the issues facing veterans, as well as cater for the welfare of the citizens under the social security system. The issues related to inheritance, as well as compensation, was rampant, and the state had to establish mechanisms through which death benefits could be administered to prevent further conflicts.

Due to this, the federal bureaucracy grew in size, and its scope expanded as well since the government was much involved in human affairs. However, the new trend led to strong resentment against government officials and the departments they headed or served.

Role of Politics-Congress

During the First World War, there were calls from the political quarters, particularly the congress, to improve the federal bureaucracy, since the country was facing various economic and socio-political challenges for the first time in the 20th century. In fact, the handling of the federal bureaucracy became a political agenda that shaped the public opinion, and voters were expected to cast their vote for a party based on its approach to the issue.

Interest groups called on the government to intervene mainly to salvage the lives of those affected by draughts and catastrophes, but the government had insufficient human resources to address several problems that faced its citizens, ranging from health issues to economic challenges. The United States had become popular globally, and its position as regional and global hegemony was being felt everywhere, yet its people never enjoyed their economic and social rights.

By then, the US economy, its population, and influence were unmatched, and it was felt that the government had to do something to make its citizens great. Unfortunately, the government never had the capacity to engage its people in socio-economic development, and this was the time when strengthening the federal bureaucracy was viewed as the only valid option, as it would give each person an opportunity to access government services.

Economic Hardships

As the First World War was ongoing, the country was facing an economic recession, commonly referred to as the Great Depression, which changed the American perception towards bureaucracy and the entire government. Supporters of classical liberalism suggested that the state had to intervene to bring sanity, something that senior officials borrowed heavily. The government was expected to respond to the declining economy by facilitating members of the public, meaning that the establishment of departments and agencies was critical.

Additionally, the country was facing widespread social misery, issues of violence against minorities, and social conflicts. In this case, the state was forced to design programs that would facilitate employment, which resulted in the expansion of the federal bureaucracy. As the government was committed to ending war together with its western counterparts, the executive designed a policy to expand the responsibilities of the federal government, as it was felt the state was exposed to external attacks.

The social movements, especially those charged with reforms, forced the government to take charge in order to address issues to do with civil rights, challenges of urbanization, and environmental problems. Since changes in society were inevitable, the expansion of the federal bureaucracy was mandatory.

Change of Leadership

Before the First World War, the federal bureaucracy was simply made up of few employees serving only three departments, including state, treasury, and war departments. During the war, the government embarked on a massive exercise of employing people to serve in various departments that had just been established to offer important services to citizens. As the number of those willing to work with the state was increasing, the hiring standards, as well as the training methods, were adjusted.

Before, people were simply given jobs based on patronage, but the system of recruitment was adjusted, including the promotion criteria during and after the First World War. Initially, President George Washington had made a strong promise to the Americans to hire individuals based on their expertise, but it was never the case until the WWI since senior civil servants were mostly the members of the ruling party.

There was a tendency where the incoming head of state dismissed senior bureaucrats with the aim of replacing them with his or her cronies, but this system changed during the war, as rewarding friends and political allies with state jobs was viewed as discriminatory.

Before the war, Andrew Jackson had tried to do away with the spoils or patronage system, but his attempt was not successful since resistance was faced by veteran bureaucrats. During the war, it was felt unnecessary to terminate the services of civil servants that had worked with predecessors, unless they proved to be incompetent and corrupt.

Gilded Age Millionaires

The opposition to the Gilded Age millionaires, who utilized their positions to enrich themselves, facilitated the early twentieth-century developments in the federal bureaucracy. The tycoons in government were indifferent to the sufferings of the majority since they were concerned with wealth accumulation instead of being imbued to service delivery, something that sparked widespread criticism. The government had to intervene to regulate the labor market, as claims of children being exploited were reported.

The state was faced with the challenge of redeeming its image, which was not possible without sufficient personnel and suitable agencies, as well as departments. During the war, various existing departments were split to allow the citizens to access quality service more easily.

The First World War forced the US government to develop various programs in order to achieve national interests, both locally and abroad, meaning many individuals had to be incorporated into government. For the first time in American history, the government was employing an interventionist approach by helping the European states in ending the war that had affected the lives of many citizens. Therefore, sufficient policies and programs had to be designed to ensure success, and this expanded the federal bureaucracy.

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