America on the Homefront Preparing for and Fighting in WWII

The American Home Front  The American military was not prepared for an all out war.  Remember it only had 300,000 men. About the same size as Denmark’s.  The U.S. calls on American men to enlist. The American people respond.  In fact the Government is overwhelmed by the number that decide to join.  Patriotism sweeps the country.

The American Home Front  American Industry had to go from peace time production to war time production(which takes a lot of time).  GM, Ford, and Chrysler went from creating cars to tanks.  Boeing from regular airplanes to bombers and fighter jets.  Gun makers like Colt, from hunting rifles to machine guns, flamethrowers, war rifles.

The American Home Front  With the country in full war mode, the U.S. was producing weapons faster than anybody thought possible  In one month, the U.S. was able to produce up to 4,000 tanks and 4,500 planes.  Ship production also increased dramatically to help protect our coasts.

Aircraft Production Ranking behind the USSR, Britain & Germany in 1939, the U.S. became the top aircraft producer in the world by By war's end, the U.S. had produced 86,500 more aircraft than Germany, Italy & Japan combined & tripled the combined output of Germany & Japan.

Merchant Ship Production Another insightful statistic illustrating the United States' enormous industrial output is the gross tonnage of merchant ships built during the war. When compared with England and Japan, the second and third largest fleets respectively, the U.S. output is staggering.

The American Home Front  Farms were producing as much food as possible. Meats and cereals were rationed and prepped for the war effort.  Families turned in all the scrap metal they could as well as oil and gasoline to help.  The U.S. accepted help even from children.

“Victory Gardeners” The federal government, through the Office of War Mobilization, encouraged citizens to participate in the war effort. One popular idea was the creation of victory gardens. The federal government, through the Office of War Mobilization, encouraged citizens to participate in the war effort. One popular idea was the creation of victory gardens % of all the produce grown during the war years were grown in such gardens % of all the produce grown during the war years were grown in such gardens.

Victory Loan Drive To finance the war, the federal government encouraged citizens to purchase war bonds. To finance the war, the federal government encouraged citizens to purchase war bonds. By borrowing money, the federal government financed approximately 40% of the cost of the war. By borrowing money, the federal government financed approximately 40% of the cost of the war. However, the high levels of deficit spending also boosted the national debt five-fold from 1940 – However, the high levels of deficit spending also boosted the national debt five-fold from 1940 – 1945.

The American Home Front  The war had an unintended effect.  Women joined the workforce. Before the war, only about 3 million worked in the U.S. Most were housewives and raised families.  Since so many men went to war, the U.S. was desperate for workers to produce weapons. So they replaced the men with women.

American Women During WWII “If you can drive a car, you can run a machine.” “Why do we need women workers? You can’t build ships, planes, and guns without them.”

Women were badly needed in industry and therefore were able to get better jobs, better pay and better working conditions than ever before Women were badly needed in industry and therefore were able to get better jobs, better pay and better working conditions than ever before Fashion also changed for women, they began to wear overalls, scarves in their hair, pants and trousers instead of skirts Fashion also changed for women, they began to wear overalls, scarves in their hair, pants and trousers instead of skirts The war also gave women a new opinion of themselves: The war also gave women a new opinion of themselves: “I never could handle the simplest can openers, or drive a nail without getting hurt, and now I put in half my nights armed with hammers and wrenches handling the insides of giant machines.”-A woman worker

When the U.S. entered the war, Nazi leaders would mock Americans saying, “Americans can’t build planes, only electric iceboxes and razor blades.” When the U.S. entered the war, Nazi leaders would mock Americans saying, “Americans can’t build planes, only electric iceboxes and razor blades.” He was wrong. He was wrong. In 1942, Americans produced more than 60,000 planes and shipped more than 8 million tons of goods. In 1942, Americans produced more than 60,000 planes and shipped more than 8 million tons of goods.

Rationing The productive capacity of the United States during World War II surpassed all expectations. The productive capacity of the United States during World War II surpassed all expectations. Americans at home were asked to conserve materials and to accept ration coupons or stamps that limited the purchase of certain products such as: Americans at home were asked to conserve materials and to accept ration coupons or stamps that limited the purchase of certain products such as: Gasoline Gasoline Rubber Rubber Sugar Sugar Butter Butter Certain cloths Certain cloths American responses to rationing varied from cheerful compliance to resigned grumbling to instances of black market subversion and profiteering. American responses to rationing varied from cheerful compliance to resigned grumbling to instances of black market subversion and profiteering.

Demonizing the Enemy During the war, both sides attempted to demonize their adversary. In these American posters, the Germans and Japanese are depicted in less than flattering light.

More Rights for Blacks When the need for workers began to arise, most industries would not hire blacks. When the need for workers began to arise, most industries would not hire blacks. FDR signed Executive Order 8802 which eliminated discriminatory hiring practices in the government and forced companies to hire blacks so the nation could meet wartime production quotas FDR signed Executive Order 8802 which eliminated discriminatory hiring practices in the government and forced companies to hire blacks so the nation could meet wartime production quotas Black employment doubled during WWII Black employment doubled during WWII

Blacks were still forced to fight in all black units during WWII. Blacks were still forced to fight in all black units during WWII. The Tuskegee Airmen were black fighter pilots who destroyed 400 enemy aircraft by the end of the war. The Tuskegee Airmen were black fighter pilots who destroyed 400 enemy aircraft by the end of the war.

Detroit Race Riot (1943) rumors circulated among the black population that that "whites" had thrown a black woman and her baby over the Belle Isle bridge. rumors circulated among the black population that that "whites" had thrown a black woman and her baby over the Belle Isle bridge. Enraged, many African- Americans stormed white districts where they looted and destroyed stores and indiscriminately attacked anyone with white skin. Enraged, many African- Americans stormed white districts where they looted and destroyed stores and indiscriminately attacked anyone with white skin. Similarly, white mobs had been stirred up by a rumor that a black man had raped and murdered a white woman on the bridge. Similarly, white mobs had been stirred up by a rumor that a black man had raped and murdered a white woman on the bridge. Eventually, 6,000 federal troops had to be called in to quell the violence. Eventually, 6,000 federal troops had to be called in to quell the violence.

The U.S. needed farm laborers during the war. The government allowed Mexicans to travel over the border and work on American farms. These workers were called braceros. The U.S. needed farm laborers during the war. The government allowed Mexicans to travel over the border and work on American farms. These workers were called braceros. Many Mexican Americans also fought for the U.S. during WWII

Native Americans in WWII 1 out of 3 Native Americans served in WWII 1 out of 3 Native Americans served in WWII Many of them became part of the group, the Navajo Code-Talkers Many of them became part of the group, the Navajo Code-Talkers The Code-Talkers used their own languages to communicate messages across enemy lines The Code-Talkers used their own languages to communicate messages across enemy lines Even though these messages were often intercepted, no one was ever able to interpret them Even though these messages were often intercepted, no one was ever able to interpret them

Tragedy for Japanese Americans After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Americans questioned the loyalty of Japanese Americans After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Americans questioned the loyalty of Japanese Americans Japanese were forced to sell their homes and businesses and were sent to “relocation camps” Japanese were forced to sell their homes and businesses and were sent to “relocation camps”

The American Home Front  The American Gov’t continued work on secret weapons for WWII. Some were not yet ready.  The Manhattan Project was part of this secret program. It was begun in 1941, the day before Dec. 7th attack.  The project would ultimately end WWII.