The impact of World War on Americans Chapter 35

Essential Question What kinds of opportunities and hardships did the war create for Americans at home and abroad?

Question How do you think Pearl Harbor affected Americans? Think about what happened after 9/11

Pearl Harbor Initially live in fear of another wave of attacks from Japan Rumors of an enemy invasion haunted the region Fears faded, but coastal communities remained weary FDR reasoned…. Need to be weary

However…. If Americans didn’t win the war, we would be fighting a war in our homeland We have to help the troops

War Efforts EVERYONE could help…. Even women and children Need to sacrifice Rationing is instilled

Rationing A system for distributing food, gasoline, and other goods Reason – military needed them Clothes changed – military needed fabrics

Organizing the American economy War Production Board (WPB) responsible for making America the “arsenal of democracy.”

Examples of the change over Car factories airplanes and tanks Soft drink company artillery shells All across the country business mobilized their resources to serve the needs of the military

Depression ends  The huge demand for military supplies revived the supplies Business expanded and hired more workers Farmers prospered Gross national product (GDP) rose

Gross domestic Product Is the total value of goods and services produced in a year Rose by 116% People’s income rose by 110% Businesses grow 130% At home – things are looking better

What happens to the GDP

Financing the War Effort with Taxes and Bonds Government spending threw the roof Taxes paid for 45% needed Borrowed rest to pay for war War bonds Borrowing from banks

What happens to the national debt?

Americans came together Government and people did a lot to prevent inflation from becoming a major factor Worked together to save resources

American GIs go to War GIs or solider What was life like Government provide for everything it was labeled Government Issued… ahhh GI

Assembling a fighting force In 1940, more than 16 million men between the ages of 21 and 35 had registered for the draft Later expands to 18 to 44 Initially there was 300,000 troops, by the time pearl harbor happened 1.5 million….

After Pearl Harbor Military expanded Representing all walks of life By the end of the war nearly 6 million has enlisted

Fighting offered A way to show patriotism Immigrants and ethnic minorities this offered a chance to show they were true Americans

Training Had little time to prepare the troops 8 weeks in some cases Rough and tough

Hardships Training could only do so much – battle field was tough and rough Danger everywhere – PTSD (although not classified at this point) Fear could die any moment Boredom, fatigue, and homesickness became a way of life

GI’s who did survive Lives changed forever Many returned physically, mentally, or emotionally wounded Great pride and appreciate for American ideals of liberty

How did other groups fare Japanese Americans Woman African Americans Jewish Americans Mexican Americans

Japanese Americans Opportunities: Very few J.A. men fought in the 42nd Division which won more medals than any other unit of its size in American History

Japan American Hardships After bombing P.H., J.A. were regarded suspicious and possibly being more loyal to Japan than America Jap. Nationals declared “enemy aliens” had to register with govt. (did same to J.A. as Hitler did to Jews except for killing)

Japan American Hardships Executive Order 9066 Evacuees had weeks to sell home and possession before being interned Internment camps were bleak, crowded, and guarded with machine guns and barbed wire

Women Opportunities Worked jobs held by men Tough, physical labor increase the self-confidence, independence , and income of women. Army, navy, and coast guard established auxiliary branches for women Moved beyond office work to become truck drivers, mechanics, radio operators, air traffic controllers or pilots

Women Hardships Faced hostility on the job African Americans faced additional racial hostility Wages not equal to men’s wages Labor unions didn’t support women Double duty – full day work and full day completing domestic duties

African Americans - Opportunities As war progressed, AA were able to become military officers and engage in combat The army air corps established its first black combat unit, the Tuskegee Airmen A Philip Randolph's Threat to lead a massive march in D.C. ;led to opening of the defense industry to all Americans

African Americans - Opportunities Many AA moved to industrial cities for better-paying jobs and to escape legalized segregation in the South

African Americans - hardships Racisms was still a powerful force in American Society Early in the war, the marines and army air corps refused to take AA soldiers At 1st, AA were relegated to menial and non-combate roles

African Americans - hardships