Prompt #3 Suppose you are President Roosevelt following December 7th, 1941. What are the three most important things that must be done to prepare the country for war?
Propaganda Analysis Analyze the posters within each group and try and determine a common theme.
Home Front World War II
War Productions Board (1942) War + Depression slowed production in Allied countries War Productions Board Converted peacetime industries to wartime Ex: cars, lawn mowers, bird cages, etc. weapons, bombers, etc. Ford made new factories for bombers & Liberty Ships
Wartime Work Force Unemployment almost vanished Wages rose 50% Financing the War Higher taxes, deficit spending (debt), war bonds
Shortages & Controls More jobs, but couldn’t buy certain things Ex: metal for zippers used for weapons; nylons used for parachutes
Rationing Ration books points for goods (sugar, butter, coffee) Points AND cash
Public Support Posters Victory gardens Blackouts (bombing raid drills) Collections for recyclable
Mobilization
Mobilizing the Armed Forces Sept. 1940 – 1st peacetime draft (Selective Training & Service Act) Men 21-36 had to register Age changed to 18-37 in 1942
GI’s = “Government Issue” The GI War GI’s = “Government Issue” Soldiers, sailors, aviators (over 16 million)
Native Americans “Code Talkers” radio operators Used their own language for a secret code
African Americans First just supportive roles Separate units as casualties grew Tuskegee Airmen Eventually fought in same units
Women Women worked in all aspects except combat Industrial jobs, manufacturing weapons, nursing, and intelligence
Drawing Understanding Check Home Front efforts (2 concepts) Mobilization actions (2 concepts)
What were things you considered as you made decisions? Draft Activity What were things you considered as you made decisions?