US History and Gov’t: Would you have rather fought in the European front or the Pacific front during WWII? Describe 1 thing that you have done to support our troops in Afghanistan and/or Iraq? OK, honestly how many of you knew we were still in Afghanistan? What is 1 thing you could do to support our current troops that are overseas?

America Enters the War

WWII Home Front

America enters the war The United States becomes an “Arsenal of Democracy” By 1942 America’s production was equal to that of the three Axis powers Soldiers in WWII called themselves GI’s (Government Issued for the stamp that appeared on the uniforms, tools and weapons that the government issued them)

The federal government sold war bonds Americans were asked to sacrifice gasoline, rubber, meat, sugar and butter during the war Schools forfeited their breaks so they could go off and do essential work (”VICTORY SHIFTS”)

All American Girls Baseball League was created as a diversion for the lack of Major League Baseball Rosie the Rivetar (Rosena B. Bonvita) symbolized the American working woman during WWII Women’s labor force increased by 3 million people during WWII More than 250,000 females served in the armed forces wearing the Army WACS, Navy WAVES and Coast Guard SPARS

African Americans during the War Many African Americans eagerly took factory jobs and signed up for the military June 25, 1941, Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, declaring it the policy of the United States “that there shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color or national origin” Double V campaign pushed for the defeat of Germany and Japan but also the defeat of racial prejudice

Japanese Americans during the war Many on the West Coast feared that Japanese citizens were spies February 19, 1942, Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which ordered the Japanese-Americans to internment camps (127,000) 1944, Korematsu vs. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that the internment camps were legal, because they were based on “military necessity” 1983, the United States government officially apologized to those who had been placed in camps and gave each survivor $20,000 over a ten year period

Japanese Americans during the war Many on the West Coast feared that Japanese citizens were spies February 19, 1942, Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which ordered the Japanese-Americans to internment camps (127,000) 1944, Korematsu vs. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that the internment camps were legal, because they were based on “military necessity” 1983, the United States government officially apologized to those who had been placed in camps and gave each survivor $20,000 over a ten year period

Eisenhower’s message http://www.army.mil/d-day/message.html

D Day 1) June 6, 1944; planned by Eisenhower 2) The Soviet Union had been the only major power to consistently engage the NAZI army since 1942 3) Stalin asked that a 2nd front be opened in Western Europe 4) By the end of July 2 million allied soldiers were on the ground in France, this event began the retreat of the NAZI army 5) Paris is liberated by the end of August

Yalta Conference

February 1945—Beginning of the Cold War 1) Germany would be split in to 4 zones of occupation at the conclusion of the war 2) Berlin would also be divided into the same 4 zones 3) Stalin promised that the Soviets would hold free elections in the Eastern European nations 4) Soviets would join the war in the Pacific after the official surrender of Germany 5) Roosevelt thought that the support of Soviet troops against Japan was critical due to the evident land invasion

War with Japan

May 6, 1942, 75,000 Americans were forced to surrender on the Bataan Peninsula (Bataan Death March) June 1942—Battle of Midway, Japanese lost 4 aircraft carriers and over 300 planes (last major offensive battle the Japanese launched against the United States) Battle of Guadalcanal, August 1942; American marines engaged in jungle warfare and hand to hand combat By 1944 Americans were able to reach the major Japanese cities and unleashed massive bombing attacks Battle of Iwo Jima (25,000 dead) Okinawa (50,000 dead)

Manhattan Project

Preparations for the bomb began in August of 1942 in Los Alamos, New Mexico Robert Oppenheimer and his crew successfully detonated the atomic bomb on July 16, 1945 Potsdam Conference Truman tells Japan to surrender or face a powerful new bomb. August 6, 1945, Hiroshima is bombed and two days later Nagasaki is destroyed