Chapter 25 The U.S. in World War II

Sides are chosen Allied PowersAllied Powers –US –Great Britain –France –Russia Axis PowersAxis Powers –Germany –Italy –Japan

The Draft Selective Service Act is put back into effectSelective Service Act is put back into effect –All men are to register –5 million volunteered –10 million drafted “I wanted to be a hero, I don’t want to miss the war, I am an American.”

Expanding the Military Army Chief of Staff George Marshall established the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC)Army Chief of Staff George Marshall established the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) –Women would serve in noncombat roles –At first given only a salary, eventually got full benefits –Served as nurses, ambulance drives, radio operators, electricians and pilots

Dramatic Contributions 300,000 Mexican Americans served300,000 Mexican Americans served 1 million African American served1 million African American served 13,000 Chinese Americans served13,000 Chinese Americans served 33,000 Japanese Americans served33,000 Japanese Americans served 25,000 Native Americans served25,000 Native Americans served

African American Soldiers The armed services were segregates and few AF-AM units saw combatThe armed services were segregates and few AF-AM units saw combat Tuskegee AirmenTuskegee Airmen –Won major air battles over Italy –Won two distinguished unit service citations against German Luftwaffe (airships)

African American Soldiers 92 nd Infantry- “The Buffaloes”92 nd Infantry- “The Buffaloes” –In 6 months of fighting in Europe received 7 Legion of Merit Medals7 Legion of Merit Medals 65 Silver Stars65 Silver Stars 162 Bronze Stars for Courage under Fire162 Bronze Stars for Courage under Fire

Japanese Americans 100 th Battalion100 th Battalion –Was an all Nisei unit (American citizens whose parents moved from Japan) –Saw brutal combat in the Pacific became known as “The Purple Heart Battalion” –Became most decorated unit in US History

Japanese Generations Issei: 1 st Generation (late1800s/early 1900s) 1900s) Nisei: 2nd Generation ( s) Sansei: 3 rd Generation (1940s-60s) Yonsei: 4 th Generation (1960s-80s) Gosei: 5 th Generation (1980s-Present) *** Nikkei: All of the world’s Japanese immigrants across generations

Civil Liberties Limited Feb. 19, 1942: FDR signed an order to place 110,000 Japanese-Americans were put into internment campsFeb. 19, 1942: FDR signed an order to place 110,000 Japanese-Americans were put into internment camps –Forced to sell their homes, businesses –Camps in different states –Most of them were not well funded and cared for –NOT DEATH CAMPS – Purpose was to protect them and prevent saboteurs

Korematsu v. U.S. Supreme court said the US had a right to deprive citizens of rights in emergency situationsSupreme court said the US had a right to deprive citizens of rights in emergency situations - Executive Order Congress passed a law requiring reparations to be issued to all survivors1988 Congress passed a law requiring reparations to be issued to all survivors –Total reparations to be $1.2 billion –$20,000 to each person 1998 Fred Korematsu given the Congressional Medal of Freedom1998 Fred Korematsu given the Congressional Medal of Freedom

Numbers to astonish! “Between 1940 and 1945, the US contributed nearly 300,000 warplanes to the Allied cause. American factories produced more than 2 million trucks, 107,351 tanks, 87,620 warships, 5,475 cargo ships and over 20 million rifles, machine guns and pistols with 44 million rounds of ammunition”“Between 1940 and 1945, the US contributed nearly 300,000 warplanes to the Allied cause. American factories produced more than 2 million trucks, 107,351 tanks, 87,620 warships, 5,475 cargo ships and over 20 million rifles, machine guns and pistols with 44 million rounds of ammunition” –A shipyard in California could turn out a ship in 4 days (with prefabricated parts.)

New Laborers 6 million of the 18 million new industrial workers were women6 million of the 18 million new industrial workers were women –Proved they could weld and use the riveting gun as well as men –Paid 40% less than men –“Rosie the Riveter”

Population Shifts Over 1.2 million African Americans leave the south to seek jobs in Northern citiesOver 1.2 million African Americans leave the south to seek jobs in Northern cities

Scientists Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) –Developed radar and sonar FDR received a letter from Einstein warning that Germans developing a weapon after discovering how to split the atomFDR received a letter from Einstein warning that Germans developing a weapon after discovering how to split the atom Manhattan Project (1942)Manhattan Project (1942) –To develop an atomic bomb –J. Robert Oppenheimer was the head of the project

Economic Controls Office of Price ManagementOffice of Price Management –Fixed prices on most goods –Raised tax rates –Encouraged Americans to buy war bonds

Ensuring Supplies to our Soldiers War Productions Board (WPB)War Productions Board (WPB) –Decided which peacetime companies to convert to wartime manufacturing Ford to make tanksFord to make tanks Pencil companies to make bombsPencil companies to make bombs –Organized drives to collect scrap iron, paper, cooking fat

Rationing Households received ration books with coupons to be used to buy a set amount of meat, shoes, sugar, coffee, and gasHouseholds received ration books with coupons to be used to buy a set amount of meat, shoes, sugar, coffee, and gas Some cheated and bought goods on the “black market”Some cheated and bought goods on the “black market” –Can buy rationed products illegally at inflated prices

Families and Veterans WWII created many new familiesWWII created many new families –Marriage licenses went up 300% early in war Had to cope with no fathers, sons, brothers being homeHad to cope with no fathers, sons, brothers being home 1944 GI Bill of Rights passed1944 GI Bill of Rights passed –College education paid for by the government –Federal loans to those who buy homes or start new business –450,000 engineers –238,000 teachers –91,000 scientists –67,000 doctors –22,000 dentists ***$14.5 billion after WWII