Answer all questions in this Powerpoint on a separate piece of paper to turn in to Mrs. Meckes tomorrow. After years of isolationism, Americans united after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese military. They united under the battle cry of “Remember Pearl Harbor!” Americans join the war effort!
Selective Service and the GI Five million volunteered for military service but that was still not enough for an all out war on two fronts. The Selective Service System expanded the draft and eventually provided another 10 million soldiers.
Women in the Military Congress passed a law in 1942 establishing the WAAC (Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps) that would handle some of the military duties that men usually held. In all, some 250,000 women served in the WAAC’s and other auxiliary branches during the war.
“Why die for democracy when we don’t even have it over here?” quote in an editorial of an African-American newspaper This was a feeling shared by African-American, Native American, Mexican- American, and Asian American minority groups who faced segregation and inequality here in the United States. Minorities knew that life under Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan) would be worse than what they faced in the United States. “We are also children of the United States. We will defend her.” quote from the Spanish speaking congress
About 500,00 Mexican-Americans joined the armed forces to fight in WWII. More than one million African-Americans joined the military. At first they were not permitted in combat, but after much protest, they served in combat the last year of the war. More than 13,000 Chinese Americans and 33,000 Japanese Americans joined the military. Many served as spies and interpreters. Some 25,000 Native Americans including 800 women enlisted.
How did the U.S. military reflect the diversity of American society during World War II? What was the battle cry of Americans that united them to become involved in the war?