War mobilization, war bonds, rationing, role of women and minorities, ethnic problems How to prepare for the war and deal with racial issues.

Mobilization The fighting of WWII required the mobilization of the American economy, government and society.  America changed from a peacetime economy to a wartime economy

War Bonds In order to finance the war, the American public was urged to give money by buying war bonds. Movie stars urged people to buy the bonds. Young school children brought change to school to buy defense stamps

Rationing

Americans begin rationing  Some items that were rationed included:  Meat, sugar, gasoline, and silk.  Every month, households were given blue or red coupon books.  Blue books controlled processed foods  Red books controlled meats, fats and oils.

Out of the Great Depression It was WWII that finally pulled the US out of the Great Depression by providing jobs for men and women. MASSIVE government spending Since men were needed for the war effort, women became the workforce.

Rosie the Riveter

Racial tensions rise  African Americans demanded equal access to war time jobs  A. Philip Randolph (African American Union Leader) threatened to organize a march in Washington,DC demanding equal wartime jobs.  FDR Responds- Issues an executive order prohibiting racial discrimination in defense plants.

 African farm workers went into the factories allowing Mexicans to move into their old farm jobs  More discrimination  Mexican Americans were attacked in Los Angeles for their clothing- some considered it “un-American”

African Americans in WWII serving in segregated units

Problems faced by Japanese Americans  After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, western states feared an attack from the Japanese and urged President Roosevelt to take action.  Without any evidence of wrong doing, Japanese Americans were ordered to sell their property and belongings and report to internment camps in inland deserts.

Japanese Internment Camps A black-eye on FDR’s presidency. Executive Order February 19, 1942 –Allowed the military to get around the constitutional protections of American citizens in the name of national defense.

Japanese Internment Camps Nearly 120,000 Japanese living on the west coast in the United States were held in camps. At least half were children Some were held up to four years Some died in the camps due to poor health care and emotional stress.

Summarizing the differences in WWI and WWII

World War IWorld War II We use charts for possible discussion questions- What do you think a possible discussion might come from???????????????????????????

World War I Rationing was not mandatory Victory gardens were encouraged Citizens were not given coupon books African Americans met with discrimination Many African Americans came north for jobs Women left the workforce at the end of the war and returned to their homes

WWII Rationing was mandatory Citizens were given coupon books Wage and price controls began Japanese Americans and African Americans suffered discrimination Women workers returned home after the war but the attitude toward women workers changed.

Women and Minorities A major consequence of the treatment of women and minorities in the post- war world led to the civil rights and women’s rights movements.