Journal # 90 – Beginning of WWII Copy the numbered facts 1.After WWI new leaders emerged in Italy and Germany who promised to fix their countries’ problems. 2.These leaders believed in Fascism: The belief that Government should control everything in society As a result, the leaders became dictators and oppressed anyone who opposed them 3.Eventually both Germany and Italy joined together to strengthen each country’s desire for more power and control and become known as the Axis Power 4.Great Britain and France will fight these countries and will be known as the Allied Powers 5.War over government control will be known as WWII and last years:

Take out a sheet of notebook paper and label it WWII Notes Make a box with: cause, sides, and years On September 1, 1939 Adolf Hitler led the Germany army to invade Poland Two days later, France and Great Britain declared war on Germany. Europe quickly exploded into war. From 1939 to December 1941, there was no direct involvement by the United States, they had isolated themselves However December 7 th, 1941 changed everything

Before the Attack on Pearl Harbor Life in the South In 1938, three years before the U.S. enters the war, President Roosevelt declared the southern region of the U.S. was “the Nation’s No. 1 economic problem.” The country was still feeling the effects of the Great Depression and the future seemed uncertain. The 1940 census recorded a median family income in Georgia was just over half the national average. What did the future hold?

Lend – Lease Act The U.S. did however, send aid to many of its allies in the form of war material and other resources. In early 1941, Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act It gave Pres. Roosevelt the power to lend or rent military goods to countries he thought was important to U.S. interests. (Great Britain, France, China, and the Soviet Union) Examples of items shipped: AirplanesTanksBullets Other materials: uniforms, etc.

Pres. Roosevelt signing the Lend-Lease Act in 1941

Purpose of Lend Lease The United States did not wish to openly declare war on the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan; so the Lend Lease Act allowed the U.S. to assist the countries they supported without being directly involved in the war. Georgia wanted the oppression and tyranny that was occurring in Europe to end so they supported the Lend Lease Act. Many U.S. companies profited as a result of shipping goods overseas By the end of the war over 50 billion dollars in materials had been shipped. But December 7 th occurred – what do you know?

December 7 th A Date Which Will Live in Infamy Read along with the speech the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, gave on December 8 th, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor FeoTA&feature=related FeoTA&feature=related

Effectives of Pearl Harbor When: December 7 th, 1941 What: Surprise attack by the Japanese on the U.S. Navy base in Hawaii. Results: In one day, 12 U.S. ships were sunk or beached for repairs Nine other vessels damaged 160 U.S. aircraft were destroyed with 150 more damaged 2,300 Americans were killed The next day Congress declared war on the Empire of Japan Within the next 3 days, we declared war on Germany as well. Life in the U.S. was forever changed.

Ending of the Great Depression WWII permanently altered the rural Georgia landscape. Factories within small towns and commercial companies located in larger cities experienced a “metamorphosis” almost overnight. Many became productive industries that aided the war effort.

Journal #91 – War Industries come to Georgia Copy the following 1.After declaring war, the U.S. will begin building war materials as quickly as possible 2.Two main war industries will come to Georgia 3.Bell Aircraft plant in Marietta will build planes. Example: B-29 super fortress 4.Shipyards in Savannah and Brunswick will build “Liberty Ship” that will carry cargo to the war areas 5.Both put many Georgians back to work

Bell Bomber Plant The largest and most dramatic transformations was the small town of Marietta, just north of Atlanta. Within 4 months of Pearl Harbor, the Bell Aircraft Corp. broke ground in Marietta on its newest production facility This massive plant would assist in the making of the most technologically-advanced bomber in the world: B- 29 Superfortress. The plant was completed in 54 weeks and was roughly the size of 63 football fields. It was equipped with air conditioning, a recent innovation at the time. By the end of the war, it had produced 668 bombers and was the state’s single largest employer during WWII with more than 28,000 workers.

Women became 1/3 of the workforce during WWII

Military Bases In Georgia Of the different geographic regions of Georgia, the Piedmont received the most military bases. Metro Atlanta had three bases emerge in its’ general location. These included Fort Gillam, Fort Gillam, Fort McPherson Fort McPherson Rickenbacker Field, which was later renamed Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Rickenbacker Field, which was later renamed Dobbins Air Reserve Base. The rest of the Piedmont had two more bases, including Fort Benning (largest infantry training school in the world), Fort Benning (largest infantry training school in the world), Fort Gordon (used to hold foreign prisoners) Fort Gordon (used to hold foreign prisoners) These bases sprung up almost overnight and immediately became integral parts of the United States war effort.

Shipyards on the Coastal Plains Savannah and Brunswick were also important during the war These two sites were chosen as 2 of 16 ports across the U.S. to build ships. The ships constructed were called “liberty ships,” and they were capable of hauling thousands of tons of cargo across the Atlantic.

Why Brunswick and Savannah? Both were located on the coast and had a long maritime history as a trading ports. From 1942 – 45, S.E. Shipbuilding in Savannah built 87 ships for the war effort. In Brunswick, J.A. Jones Company built 99 ships. On average it took 89 days to construct a single liberty ship. Like other war time industries, a great number of women and African Americans were hired.

Liberty Ships ayer_embedded&v=9oX_x-L_BoY ayer_embedded&v=9oX_x-L_BoY

Industries started during WWII that will bring the state out of the depression and forever change the state from an agriculture economy to a diverse skilled state.

Carl Vinson Born in Georgia in 1883 (18 years after the Civil War) In 1914, he was sworn into Congress as its youngest member. He quickly gained a seat on the Naval Affairs Committee. He was known for his consistent policy for a strong national defense. He was known for his consistent policy for a strong national defense. He was vitally important in getting Congress to expand the budget for the Navy He will become known as the “Father of the two ocean navy.” It is through his influence, Georgia was selected for ship building during WWII

Richard Russell Born in Georgia in 1918 (one year after WWI) He served in several different political positions State House of Representatives State House of Representatives Georgia Governor (reduced the number of agencies from 102 to 17) Georgia Governor (reduced the number of agencies from 102 to 17) U.S. Senator U.S. Senator While working in Washington D.C. he worked on many committees and agencies (atomic energy, Central Intelligence, etc.) By the end of his career, many considered him one of the most powerful men in the country, second only to the President of the U.S.

Richard Russell campaigning for FDR in Warm Springs in 1932