The American Homefront

Rationing 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: Gasoline Rubber Sugar Butter Certain cloths American responses to rationing varied from cheerful compliance to resigned grumbling to instances of black market subversion and profiteering.

People were given ration coupons for goods such as gas, coffee, sugar, tires, and meats. People sought alternatives to the shortages.

Inflation & Food Prices Facing rapidly increasing food prices and wage rates, Roosevelt submitted a bill to Congress on September 7, 1942. Roosevelt spoke to the American people that evening warning that farm prices may succumb to drastic inflation unless the government establishes further price controls. He also explained to the nation the need for the government to increase the federal income tax rates. The Office of Price Administration established price controls to control inflation. Congress passed a stabilization bill on October 2.

“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. 30-40% of all the produce grown during the war years were grown in such gardens.

War bonds issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war. War bonds generate capital for the government and make civilians feel involved in their national militaries. The funds could be liquidated and serve as a stimulus to encourage consumer spending for the economy transitioning to peacetime activity. War Bonds

Conscientious Objectors A conscientious objector (CO) is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service“ on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion. During World War II, all registrants were sent a questionnaire covering basic facts about their identification, physical condition, history and also provided a check off to indicate opposition to military service because of religious training or belief.. Men marking the latter option received a DSS 47 form with ten questions: Describe the nature of your belief which is the basis of your claim. Explain how, when, and from whom or from what source you received the training and acquired the belief which is the basis of your claim. Give the name and present address of the individual upon whom you rely most for religious guidance. Under what circumstances, if any, do you believe in the use of force? Describe the actions and behavior in your life which in your opinion most conspicuously demonstrate the consistency and depth of your religious convictions. Have you ever given public expression, written or oral, to the views herein expressed as the basis for your claim made above? If so, specify when and where. Have you ever been a member of any military organization or establishment? If so, state the name and address of same and give reasons why you became a member. Are you a member of a religious sect or organization? Describe carefully the creed or official statements of said religious sect or organization as it relates to participation in war. Describe your relationships with and activities in all organizations with which you are or have been affiliated other than religious or military.

Conscientious Objectors Civilian Public Service (CPS) provided conscientious objectors in the United States an alternative to military service. From 1941 to 1947 nearly 12,000 draftees, unwilling to do any type of military service, performed work of national importance in 152 CPS camps throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The work was initially done in areas isolated from the general population both because of the government's concern that pacifist philosophy would spread and conscientious objectors would not be tolerated in neighboring communities.

The Four Freedoms

Zoot Suit Riots A series of riots that erupted in Los Angeles during World War II between sailors and soldiers and Mexican American youth gangs. On June 3, 1943, a group of servicemen on leave complained that they had been assaulted by a gang of Pachucos. They headed to east LA where they attacked all the men they found wearing zoot suits, often ripping off the suits and burning them in the streets. In many instances, the police intervened by arresting beaten-up Mexican-American youth for disturbing the peace. The Navy and Marine Corps intervened on June 7, by declaring that Los Angeles would henceforth be off-limits to all military personnel.

Hey Pachuco! Summer '43 the man's gunnin' for me Blue and white mean war tonight They say damn my pride and all The other cats livin' down eastside And there's no place to hide Oooh Marie you better grab my jack And zip gun for me And I'll face no shame 'Cause tonight's the night I die for our name Well when we hit downtown We start to throw down We end up doing time Soon as they've met us They're out to get us So I stick with that gang of mine

Zoot Suit Riot Who's that whisperin' in the trees It's two sailors and they're on leave Pipes and chains and swingin' hands Who's your daddy? Yes I am Fat cat came to play Now he can't run fast enough You had best stay away When the pushers come to shove Zoot Suit Riot Throw back a bottle of beer Zoot Suit Riot Pull a comb through your coal black hair Zoot Suit Riot Throw back a bottle of beer Zoot Suit Riot Pull a comb through your coal black hair Blow Daddy!

Tragedy for Japanese Americans Americans questioned the loyalty of Japanese-Americans EO - 9066 No matter how American the individuals may be. Almost 2/3 were born in the US. Over 120,000 Japanese- Americans were forced to sell their homes and businesses and were sent to 1 of 10 “relocation camps” in California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas. The U.S. internment camps were overcrowded and provided poor living conditions

More Rights When the need for workers began to arise, most industries would not hire blacks. A. Philip Randolph, head of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters called for a protest march on Washington. FDR made an agreement with Randolph and forced defense contractors to hire black Americans. Fair Employment Practices Committee Black employment doubled during WWII

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces. During World War II, African Americans in many U.S. states still were subject to racist Jim Crow laws. The American military was racially segregated, as was much of the federal government. The Tuskegee Airmen were subject to racial discrimination, both within and outside the army. Despite these adversities, they trained and flew with distinction. Destroyed 400 enemy aircraft by the end of the war. Serving Country

Double V Campaign The Pittsburg Courier designed this ad campaign to symbolize the efforts of African-Americans who were fighting for victory against fascism abroad and fighting racism at home. This slogan was adopted on a national scale to criticize the discrimination that African-Americans were facing in defense-related industries.

Detroit Race Riot (1943) After the start of the war, employers in Detroit turned to a ready pool of African American labor from the South. The muggy summer evening of June 20, 1943 saw rioting. Exacerbating the conflict, rumors circulated among the black population that that "whites" had thrown a black woman and her baby over the Belle Isle 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.

Indigenous Service Some 44,000 Native Americans served in the United States military during World War II: at the time, one-third of all able- bodied Indian men from 18 to 50 years of age. Native American code talkers were deployed by the United States Army during World War II, including Cherokee, Choctaw, Lakota Meskwaki, and Comanche soldiers Highest % Service Today…

Code Talkers… (Link to Site)

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 in the Workforce At first companies did not think that there would be a labor shortage so they did not take the idea of hiring women seriously. The government decided to launch a propaganda campaign to sell the importance of the war effort and to lure women into working. They promoted the fictional character of “Rosie the Riveter” as the ideal woman worker: loyal, efficient, patriotic, and pretty.

Women in the Workforce Women responded to the call to work differently depending on age, race, class, marital status, and number of children. Half of the women who took war jobs were minority and lower socio- economic class women who were already in the workforce. They switched from lower-paying traditionally female jobs to higher-paying factory jobs.

The war also gave women a new opinion of themselves: 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 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

An Interview with The Workers…

Crashcourse : WWII Part 2 (Homefront)

Banned WW2 Cartoons