The Home Front Ch 14 sec 4

I. Sacrifice and Struggle at Home Many changes happened to American society because of World War 2. People of all ages contributed to the war effort, some in factories and some at their homes. Rationing was enforced by the government on many goods, such as gasoline, rubber, sugar, and silk. Each member of a family received a ration book with stamps for the goods they needed to buy. http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/uploads/2009/10/ww0207-63_500.jpg

I. Sacrifice and Struggle at Home Scrap metal drives were done, and most people willingly gave up the rationed goods and did without to help the country. People also bought war bonds to help finance the war. Since many of the goods people would normally buy were not available, people used their excess money to fund the war. http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/exhibits/ww2/images/services/save4.jpg

I. Sacrifice and Struggle at Home Movie stars and sports heroes all promoted the war bond effort, and the total raised was 185 billion dollars, more than twice the federal budget in 1945. People sacrificed their families as well. Fathers, brothers, and sons all went to fight the war, and many never returned. http://www.flagsinternational.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/w/two-star-sticker.jpg

II. Winning American Support for the War One of the main goals of the government during the war was maintaining public support of it. If people did not want to support the war, it could weaken the government’s ability to fight. The Office of War Information was the main source of propaganda supporting the war effort. They also produced warnings about what could happen if the war was not supported. http://www.nww2m.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/office-of-war-information.jpg

II. Winning American Support for the War Hollywood also did its part. Movies supported patriotic themes, and encouraged war bond purchases. Movie stars traveled overseas to entertain the troops. Some problems did arise, such as the pledge of allegiance court case. The Supreme Court ruled that Jehovah’s Witnesses did not have to say the pledge because it violated their first amendment rights. http://navy.memorieshop.com/Adair/Cruise-Book/Bob-with%20-GIs.jpg

III. Japanese Internment Another case of rights being violated were Japanese Americans. At the start of the war, German, Italian, and Japanese immigrants were the targets of discrimination. The most widespread discrimination was done to the Japanese. After Pearl Harbor, people began to fear more attacks, and Gen. John DeWitt recommended removing all Japanese away from the West Coast. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/John_Lesene_Dewitt_copy.PNG

III. Japanese Internment Roosevelt issued executive order #9066, which authorized the removal of the Japanese, regardless of citizenship, and established internment camps for them to stay at. There were no trials, and two-thirds of the Japanese were born in the U.S. But the military rounded them up and shipped them off, usually with a weeks notice to deal with their belongings. http://abagond.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/japanese-evacuation1.jpg

III. Japanese Internment They were also forced to answer questions about their loyalty to the U.S. Many refused, and were put in harsher prison camps. They were also asked if they wanted to enlist, and many did, but they were mostly sent to Europe, out of fear they would turn and fight for Japan. They became the most decorated unit in American military history. http://www.the442.org/images/581_FCoCadre.JPG

III. Japanese Internment Some tried to support the government in spite of their treatment, but others led revolts against the violation of their rights. For decades after the war they fought to have the government admit what they did was wrong. It was not until the 1980’s that the government did and gave money to survivors of the camps. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Ronald_Reagan_signing_Japanese_reparations_bill.jpg

IV. A New Role for the Federal Government The increase in the role of the government that started during the Depression increased during WW2. Rationing and price control were directed by the Office of Price Administration. The War Production Board made sure the military got the resources it needed to fight the war. They organized the scrap drives, and limited what products companies could use to make consumer goods. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/US-WarProductionBoard-Seal.svg/720px-US-WarProductionBoard-Seal.svg.png

IV. A New Role for the Federal Government Government spending also increased, because of the demand for war materials. To help pay for this increase, the government began to collect income tax on everyone, not just the rich. http://stateimpact.npr.org/oklahoma/files/2011/11/income-tax.jpg

In your notebooks Was the government justified in rationing and limiting what people could buy during the war? Give three reasons why you either agree or disagree.