Life on the Home Front Patriotism Inspires Exceptional Actions

Paying for the War War Bonds – citizens bought them to help pay for the war (people gave $ to the gov’t and 10 years later, could get more back) Volunteerism – willingness of Americans to get involved

Rationing & Victory Gardens Rationing Government limited food/clothing/gas so there would be enough to supply the military Stamps were issued based on family size Victory Gardens People grew and canned their own gardens to provide more food

Office of War Information Created by the President Produced – Pro- Allie, Anti-Axis propaganda Radio Programs & Newsreels Required all movies to contribute to the war effort Tried to stir up distrust of German, Italian, and Japanese leaders Was this constitutional?

GI’s GI – Means “Government Issue” – was stamped on military supplies Many willingly joined the service, especially after Pearl Harbor Despite training, few were really ready for combat (emotionally)

Japanese Americans After Pearl Harbor, many questioned the loyalty of Japanese Americans Roosevelt declared non-US citizen German, Italian, & Japanese to be “enemy allies” Many German & Italian aliens & sent them to Internment Camps in the central US Executive Order People of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast were evacuated to internment camps (both citizens and not) Korematsu vs United States – Japanese American that sued the US about the constitutionality of interning citizens – the court found against him

Gathering in Puyallup, WA Camp in Amache, Colorado

Women in the Workforce Women stepped in to jobs left by the men at war Many did manufacturing jobs “Rosie the Riveter” was term given to women in factories WACS (Women’s Army Corps) – attended basic training and most took clerical jobs in the military

African Americans Tuskegee Airmen 1 st black combat unit Fighter Pilot unit Didn’t lose a single bomber assigned to them Double V Fought for Victory in the War Fought for Victory against segregation at home Employment Like women, African Americans filled empty jobs left by soldiers

Native Americans Native Americans enlisted for military service at higher proportions than any other minority group. Many men and women left the reservation for the first time to work in defense industries. Navajo Code Talkers – US needed an code the Japanese couldn’t decipher. Navajo is unwritten and very complex.

Mexican Americans Many served in the military Faced continued segregation/discrimination issues Agricultural Industries recruited men from Mexico to fill jobs left by those in the military

Jewish Americans Faced discrimination at home Wanted the US to do more about condition of Jews in Europe