Mobilizing for War

Mobilizing for War America already producing war materials Pearl Harbor-> increase production of war planes and ships Federal government (Army-Navy Munitions Board) signed contracts with American companies Aircrafts Ships Equipment

War Effort Incentives Cost-Plus Contracts Government paid company what it cost make product, plus a percentage of the cost as profit Company makes more products, quickly= make more money Reconstruction Finance Corporation Loans money to businesses to convert to producing war materials

War Production By 1942, 200,000 American companies converted to war production Auto Industry- 1/3 of all military equipment Trucks, Jeeps, Tanks, Artillery, Rifles, Mines, Helmets, Planes Ford made 8,600B-24 Liberators (55min/plane) Construction Industry- Henry Kaiser Ship-building, Liberty Ships (41 days per ship) 3,000 ships

Government Agencies Federal Government Agencies- more control of economic life War Production Board Set industry priorities, production goals, controlled raw material distribution and supplies National War Labor Board Prevented work stoppage by settling disputes between workers and management Office of Price Administration Regulated price, rationed consumer supplies

Building an Army Days after Germany invaded Poland, FDR expanded army to 227,000 soldiers Selective Service and Training Act First peacetime draft After Pearl Harbor, 60,000 men enlisted Equipment shortages Recruits stayed in tents Carried sticks instead of guns, threw stones instead of grenades Draftees issued uniforms, physical, aptitude tests, training Training creates camaraderie