Positivity Comes Out of the Negative

World War I, while a devastating and brutal event for a majority of the world, was a key event in creating corporations, jobs for women and minorities, and establishing wartime resources. In the midst of World War I, the War Finance Corporation was a government corporation created in order to financially support industries that were essential during war and to banking institutions that aided those industries. Large amounts of government borrowing were needed to pay for the war and left little money available to corporations; this reason was enough for the creation of the War Finance Corporation. Even after World War I, the War Finance Corporation continued to be a resource for businesses up until World War II where they had a position as a war corporation once again.

Along with the War Finance Corporation, the US Food Administration was formed and employed many corporations in order to send food reserves overseas to both US troops and the soldiers of our allies. This led to the creation and the employment of the US Grain Corporation, which stabilized the price of wheat. Concepts such as meatless Mondays and wheat-less Wednesdays were also started to help with rations,

Not only did the war create new corporations, but it created a new demographic of workers for existing corporations, A majority of the white male population was drafted into the war, leaving jobs available for both women and African Americans. This was the start of women truly joining the workforce and it opened up many new opportunities for the future. 

Changing times call for changing measures. The war enabled women to work and new, needed resources to develop and aid those fighting in the war. Similarly, as times change today, so do the rules. For example, during the war, women were joining the work force which was a huge step for women. Similarly, women have recently gained the right to fight in combat and are consistently gaining important positions of power in government and leading organizations, both domestically and internationally. Also, as new circumstances arise, more organizations develop to aid certain situations. For example, the occurrence of 9/11 resulted in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the expansion of the National Security Agency. 

Corporations are created in times of need and when the need is strong enough, a new demographic may be the workforce for that corporations. The first world war resulted in the creation of war resources and the "war" on terrorism resulted in the increase in security for our country. Women are continuously making strides in corporate America with hopes of similar patterns for the future. Corporations, while still large and in charge, continued to change as well, initially for profit, then for government resources. Corporations were continuously being born, regardless of the purpose, and would continue to change our socioeconomic environments in the early 20th century.