Unit 5: From Isolation to World War AH.HI.F22 Notes

Content Statement 22 The United States mobilization of its economic and military resources during World War II brought significant changes to American society.

US ECONOMY The shift to a wartime economy would ultimately end the Great Depression The federal government reorganized existing plants to produce wartime goods

RATIONING The government instituted policies to ration specific resources Ration – a fixed amount of something allowing each person only a certain amount of that good Extra goods would be sent to troops fighting the war overseas

DRAFT OF 1940 Although the US remained isolationist until Pearl Harbor, a peacetime draft was started in 1940 Was used to boost military enlistments in case of war

REGULATIONS ON US CITIZENS Military drives were conducted to collect materials and goods for the war Wage and price regulations were adopted by the federal government Victory Gardens - also called war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks

REGULATIONS ON US CITIZENS War Bonds - debt securities issued by a government to finance military operations and other expenditure in times of war which also remove money from circulation and thus also help to control inflation. Many unions signed no strike clauses

IMPACT ON MINORITIES & WOMEN Job opportunities were created for minorities and women Several jobs opened as men left for war African Americans pushed to end segregation so they could contribute to the war effort

INTERNMENT CAMPS Following Pearl Harbor, many Japanese Americans were placed in internment camps Over 110,000 Japanese Americans living on the west coast were interned Approximately two-thirds of these people were American citizens Most were allowed to stay with families and treated well unless they violated rules Camps were located in desolate low population areas Very few casualties occurred in the camps