America on the Homefront

National Unity Not a problem due to the Japanese German, Italian and Japanese Americans supported the war effort

Japanese Interment Camp Executive Order ,000 believed to be a threat to national security Located in western states Unnecessary and unfair 1988 government officially apologized for its actions

Camp in Colorado

Building the War Machine Massive military order War Production Board End production on nonessential items Assigned priorities to raw materials –Items were rationed –Rubber and gasoline Henry J. Kaiser “Sir Launchalot” the miracle ship builder one in fourteen days

Womenpower Draft drained the nation of workers More then 6 million took up jobs Rosie the Riveter

Help from Mexico Agreement with Mexico brought thousands of farm workers to US Called Braceros Young teenagers Lived in temp camps Led to the the establishment of Latino communities in much of the South and Northwest

Internal Migration during War Few events in US history have moved so many people West boomed Boomtowns grew – LA, Detroit, Seattle, Baton Rough Many stayed in their new “homes” after the war

African Americans 1.6 million left the South to seek jobs in the factories in the West and North Meant that race relations was to be a “national” issue after the war not a “regional” issue FDR executive order #8802 – no discrimination in defense industries Double “V”

Rationing on the Homefront Issued ration stamps/booklets Buy from the Office of Price Administration Trading took place when one ran out Book letter for gas = type of job