Aim: How was the US home front impacted both positively and negatively by US entrance into World War II?

The U.S. prepares for war! To win wars in Asia & Europe & meet civilian demands, the U.S. government grew to its largest size ever: The War Powers Act (1941) gave the president power to expand the government & limit liberties (censorship) The gov’t imposed rations, sold war bonds, drafted soldiers War Production Board directed factories to produce war supplies so that the Allies could out produce the Axis Powers The U.S. government spent $250 million per day from 1941 to 1945 This is 2x as much as all previous government spending combined

The War Production Board oversaw production of war equipment Henry Ford’s factories made one B-24 bomber every hour

The War Production Board oversaw production of war equipment Pre-fabrication allowed shipbuilders to make a battleship in 14 days (rather than 355 days)

US citizens prepare for War Rationing – saving important foods and products needed for the war effort Mandated by the government! People were given “ration cards”

Wartime Ration Books

Propaganda was used to encourage Americans to join the war effort Buying war bonds Why? Raise money for the government to supply the troops!

WWII propaganda: was directed by the Office of War Information

While you watch: What was considered the “best kept secret of World War II?” What effects did womens’ increased role in the war have on the rest of society? 11:50-15:30 America the Story of US Women were encouraged to work in war industries and non- combat military jobs “Rosie the Riveter”

Document Analysis The following excerpt came from Eleanor Roosevelt’s, American Women in the War, The Readers Digest 44, January 1944   The many thousands of women who are not doing any unusual work, but are simply running their houses quietly and efficiently, are contributing more to the way effort that they themselves realize. The woman who meets war difficulties with a smile, who does her best with rationing and other curtailments, who writes her man overseas the kind of letters he must have to carry him through successfully, is making a great contribution to this difficult period. If, in addition to this work at home, a woman is giving her services to any volunteer organizations, our hats must be off to her. According to Eleanor Roosevelt, what are two ways women are contributing towards the war effort besides with their labor?

Mobilizing Soldiers: The Draft

While many Americans prospered, times were VERY different for Japanese-Americans

Japanese-American Internment Propaganda against Japan caused people to be very racist against Japanese-Americans FDR issued Executive Order 9066 in 1942 Essentially making ALL people of Japanese ancestry “enemy aliens” – even if they were born in the US This led to forced relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps

But why internment? Japanese Americans were suspected of remaining loyal to their ancestral land large Japanese presence on the West Coast if there was a Japanese invasion of the American mainland, Japanese Americans were feared as a security risk

Where were the internment areas? Where is the evacuation area? Where were the internment camps? Why is this?

If you went to the movies, THIS would play before the feature film… VIDEO – up to 3:44 How does the newsreel portray internment? Positive or negative? Who do you think the audience was for this newsreel?

From the homework: Why did many Japanese-Americans join the US military?