The U.S. and WWII From Pearl to Midway

SECTION 1: MOBILIZING FOR DEFENSE  After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, they thought America would avoid further conflict with them  The Japan Times newspaper said America was “trembling in their shoes”  But if America was trembling, it was with rage, not fear  “Remember Pearl Harbor” was the rallying cry as America entered WWII

AMERICANS RUSH TO ENLIST  After Pearl Harbor five million Americans enlisted to fight in the war  The Selective Service expanded the draft and eventually provided an additional 10 million soldiers

WOMEN JOIN THE FIGHT  Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall pushed for the formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC)  Under this program women worked in non-combat roles such as nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, and pilots

ALL AMERICANS FOUGHT Despite discrimination at home, minority populations contributed to the war effort  1,000,000 African Americans served in the military  300,000 Mexican- Americans  33,000 Japanese Americans  25,000 Native Americans  13,000 Chinese Americans These “Golden 13” Great Lakes officers scored the highest marks ever on the Officers exam in 1944

A PRODUCTION MIRACLE  Americans converted their auto industry into a war industry  The nation’s automobile plants began to produce tanks, planes, boats, and command cars  Many other industries also converted to war- related supplies

LABOR’S CONTRIBUTION  By 1944, nearly 18 million workers were laboring in war industries (3x the # in 1941)  More than 6 million of these were women and nearly 2 million were minority

WAR PRODUCTION BOARD  To ensure the troops had ample resources, FDR created the WPB  The WPB decided which companies would convert to wartime production and how to best allocate raw materials to those industries

COLLECTION DRIVES  The WPB also organized nationwide drives to collect scrap iron, tin cans, paper, rags and cooking fat for recycling  Additionally, the OPA set up a system of rationing  Households had set allocations of scarce goods – gas, meat, shoes, sugar, coffee

WWII Poster encouraging conservation

Lt. Col. Jimmy DooLittle After Pearl Harbor and four months of defeat in the Pacific, FDR asked military leaders to strike back at the heart of Japan. FDR wanted to boost American morale. Show the USA was capable of retaliation against an unprovoked attack. After Pearl Harbor and four months of defeat in the Pacific, FDR asked military leaders to strike back at the heart of Japan. FDR wanted to boost American morale. Show the USA was capable of retaliation against an unprovoked attack.

Strike Japan as they did Pearl Harbor. Led by Lt. Col. James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle. Strike 5 major cities, including Tokyo With 16 B-25 bombers from the flight deck of the USS Hornet A task which had never been done. After the raid, the planes were to turn and head for China. A B-25 taking off the USS Hornet

Had to launch early because they were detected by a Japanese fisherman. 200 miles from their earlier launch point led to fuel problems. The 16 bombers each headed for their specific assigned attack area. Had to launch early because they were detected by a Japanese fisherman. 200 miles from their earlier launch point led to fuel problems. The 16 bombers each headed for their specific assigned attack area.

Although there were many enemy fighters in the air, not a single plane was damaged or shot down during the raid. Fifteen planes headed for China, and one headed for Russia, landing safely near Vladivostok. Although there were many enemy fighters in the air, not a single plane was damaged or shot down during the raid. Fifteen planes headed for China, and one headed for Russia, landing safely near Vladivostok.

The crews were forced to bail out over the mountains or ditch the aircraft offshore. Two crewmen died on the swim to shore, another was killed during bailout. Two crewmen died on the swim to shore, another was killed during bailout. Four men on one crew were seriously injured while ditching their bomber. Eight were captured by the Japanese; three of which were executed 6 months later by a firing squad after a mock trial. Eight were captured by the Japanese; three of which were executed 6 months later by a firing squad after a mock trial.

Another died of malnutrition. The remaining 4 were starved, tortured, and placed in solitary confinement until their rescue by the OSS (office of Strategic Services) in The remaining 4 were starved, tortured, and placed in solitary confinement until their rescue by the OSS (office of Strategic Services) in The crew that landed in Russia were interned, but they were able to escape to Iran 14 months later. The plane was never returned.

 Each Raider received the Distinguished Flying Cross for their mission.  Two received silver stars for their valor and bravery in aiding their fellow Raiders.  Doolittle was promoted to Brigadier General, skipping the rank of Colonel.  He also received the Medal of Honor from FDR for his gallantry in leading the mission.

Doolittle thought the mission was a failure. Attack boosted the morale of the Americans. The Japanese completely revised their plan of conquest of the USA. Two months after the Raider’s attacked, Japan attacked Midway Island with a huge task force. They lost the resulting battle. USA sank four aircraft carriers and caused the Japanese to retreat. This battle marked the turning point of Japanese aggression in the South Pacific.

The Battle of Midway  At the Battle of Coral Sea, the Yorktown and the Lexington fended off a Japanese attack on New Guinea and preserved Australia.  Code-breakers learned of plan to attack Midway Island  Admiral Chester Nimitz used this as an opportunity to ambush the Japanese fleet.  Japanese plans were hit with antiaircraft fire, shooting down 38 planes.  Japan lost 100 pilots which hurt their Air War.  American planes caught carriers by surprise—their fuel, bombs, and aircraft were exposed.  Four Japanese carriers were sunk, destroying the heart of the navy.  This hit the Japanese hard—it halted Japanese expansion in the Pacific. Badly damaged Yorktown Fighting at the Battle of Midway

Treatment of Japanese-Americans  The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 led some to suspect that Imperial Japan was preparing a full-scale attack on the West Coast of the United States.  Many concerns over the loyalty of ethnic Japanese seemed to stem from racial prejudice rather than evidence of actual malfeasance  Major Karl Bendetsen and Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt each questioned Japanese American loyalty, and DeWitt carried out the internment program.  In February 1942, Earl Warren, the Attorney General of California, had begun his efforts to persuade the federal government to remove all people of Japanese heritage from the West Coast

 Those that were as little as 1/16 Japanese could be placed in internment camps.  Presidential Proclamations 2525, 2526 and 2527 were issued designating Japanese, German and Italian nationals as enemy aliens  Executive Order 9066: signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, allowed authorized military commanders to designate "military areas" at their discretion, "from which any or all persons may be excluded."  Close to 110, 000 Japanese-Americans were place in internment camps or relocation centers.  It took more than 40 years later before the U.S. admitted fault and began to make $20,000 reparations to camp survivors

1944 Supreme Court case, Korematsu vs. U.S., affirmed the constitutionality of this terrible act.

Executive 9066

A. Philip Randolph/March on Washington  In 1941, he, Bayard Rustin, and A. J. Muste proposed a march on Washington to protest racial discrimination in war industries and to propose the desegregation of the American Armed forces  The march was cancelled after FDR issued Executive Order 8802, or the Fair Employment Act.  Some militants felt betrayed because Roosevelt's order applied only to banning discrimination within war industries and not the armed forces.