Bellwork “December 7, 1941, a date which will forever live in infamy.” "There is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States—every man, woman, and child—is in action, and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives, and in our daily tasks." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
The Home Front: U.S. Enters the War
Mobilization of Industry War Production Board established – in charge of coordinating transition to wartime economy. Converts factories to meet the needs of war. Factories now making jeeps, guns, ammunition, uniforms, food rations, fighter planes, etc. Wartime Economy – an economy whose goal is to produce goods and services that will be needed during war. First and only time this happens in U.S. History. GNP increases from $91 Billion (1939) to $215 Billion (1945, end of war).
Women and the Home Front With all the men fighting overseas, there were only women left at home to work the vacant jobs. Since the economy transitioned to a wartime economy, these vacant jobs now involved the production of ammunition and other goods needed for the war effort. Transformed society’s view of “Women’s work.” Women capable of handling men's factory jobs. Transformed women’s role in the family: no longer only homemaker. When the war ended, the women wanted to keep working.
Rationing and the Home Front Back home, rationings were encouraged by the U.S. government so that more resources would be available for the war effort.
Japanese American Persecution Result of Japanese Pearl Harbor attack causes countrywide skepticism over Japanese Americans’ loyalties to the United States or secretly to Japan. Internment of Japanese Americans ( ) Forced relocation and incarceration of 110, ,000 Japanese Americans living on the Pacific Coast to concentration camps; most U.S. born citizens. Days after the Pearl Harbor attack, Japanese Americans living on the Pacific coast are asked to hand over their radios and cameras to the U.S. government – fear of Japanese insurgents spying and gathering intel. “A Jap is a Jap” – Lt. Gen. John L. Dewitt