Focus Question: How did U. S Focus Question: How did U.S. involvement in World War II change life on the “home front”? Do Now: Look at this World War II era propaganda poster. What do you think was the main message? What was the government telling American people to do? Why?

Sum It Up The government was trying to get people to conserve gasoline by car-pooling in order to ensure the military had what it needed to fight the war. Anyone who didn’t do their part was depicted as helping the enemy (in this case Hitler).

How did U.S. involvement in World War II change life on the “home front”? The term “home front” signifies – mainly the idea that people at home were fighting the war too. To help the war effort, people were asked to make personal sacrifices. When the U.S. is involved in wars today, are people at home asked to make sacrifices? Why or why not?

One important change was RATIONING. “rationing” = limits on the amounts of certain products that people could buy. Why? So that soldiers would have enough of what they needed. People in US were asked to make personal sacrifices to help the war effort.

WW II ration books. Ration books were intended only for the family applying for them. Trading, giving away, or selling stamps was forbidden.

The government published instructions on rationing, and on topics such as how to adjust your cooking recipes.

A government demonstration of how rationing works.

Important home front actions the government was promoting: How rationing worked, what kinds of products were rationed Conserving paper, metals, rubber Waste fats and grease could be used to make explosives People should alter their cooking habits Everyone should take only their “fair share” Rationing/conserving was a patriotic act Planting Victory Gardens would help win the war

How Life Changed for one group of Americans How did women help support the war effort? Volunteered for service: WAC's (Women's Army Corps) Served in various production capacities (building planes, tanks, and weapons)

As result of women's participation in the war effort the expected role of women in American society changed. Before the war people did not think women should work. After the war women working was an accepted part of society

Homework Based on the information in your graphic organizer, write one FULL paragraph that answers this question: How did the government want people inside the U.S. to change their living habits to support the war effort? What did the government do to encourage this and what arguments did the government use to convince people to take action?