The American Home Front December 7,

Quick vocab. update Ration: a fixed allowance of provisions or food War Bonds: a debt issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war Internment: the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, Morale: emotional or mental condition with respect to cheerfulness, confidence Riveter: A person who installs rivets to fasten an object together.

“We have nothing to fear but fear itself” After the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt read his famous speech to Congress and the U.S. declared war on Japan. This led Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S. World War II was now at America’s shores. (so much for neutrality).

“Four Freedoms” FDR believes Nazi Germany is threatening American freedoms: 1. Freedom of speech 2. Freedom of worship 3. Freedom from want 4. Freedom from fear Rationale for leaving isolation behind FDR (January 1941):

Norman Rockwell’s “Four Freedoms” Posters

During World War II the Army Corps of Engineers needed to hide the Lockheed Burbank Aircraft Plant to protect it from Japanese air attack. They covered it with camouflage netting to make it look like a rural subdivision from the air.

The fear of “enemy aliens” Public rallied behind WWII like never before Many feared that immigrant groups were not unified with allied cause and were actually enemy agents o Germans and Italians: forced to move away from military bases, dealt with curfews, often jailed as spies without proof

Japanese Internment Executive Order 9066 : Ordered all Japanese- Americans on West Coast, regardless of age, birthplace of gender, into internment camps for duration of war. Deprived Japanese of essential rights, many lost all life savings when had to pack up to go to camps Korematsu v. US: Upheld internment as necessary 1988: US officially apologized and paid $20,000 in reparations

Discrimination Japanese sent to internment camps (temporary imprisonment) Small shacks, food shortages, & substandard medical care

Enlistment and Patriotism The American military was not prepared for an all out war. It only had 300,000 men. The U.S. calls on American men to enlist after Pearl Harbor and the American people respond… big time! In fact the Government is overwhelmed by the number that decide to join.

ALL AMERICANS FOUGHT Despite discrimination at home, minority populations contributed to the war effort: 1,000,000 African Americans 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

Contributions The Americans were asked by the government to ration everything. The government also sold war bonds (borrowed money from its own people to help with the war). They needed money to help the Allies as well as themselves. The U.S. was also not a very rich country and desperately needed money. The goal was to help Allies while the U.S. prepared.

Managing the Economy War cost = $330 billion 5% tax & selling war bonds Office of Price Administration: Controlled wages and set prices Rationing: Limited the amount of goods someone can buy to save for the war

War bonds helped raise $187 billion to support the war effort Buy, Buy, Buy, Buy a Bond: It Will Lead to VICTORY!

Frank Capra The Role of the Media Office of War Information Supported the war effort with films, documentaries

Rationed Goods Rationed Items: sugar, coffee, shoes, meats, and cereals. Farms were producing as much food as possible. Much of the food went to British and Russian soldiers and citizens as a result of starvation.

Shift in Production American Industry had to go from peace time production to war time production (which takes a lot of time). GM, Ford, and Chrysler went from creating cars to tanks. Boeing from regular airplanes to bombers and fighter jets. Gun makers like Colt, from hunting rifles to machine guns, flamethrowers, war rifles.

Managing the Economy War cost = $330 billion 5% tax & selling war bonds Office of Price Administration: Controlled wages and set prices Rationing: Limited the amount of goods someone can buy to save for the war

Mobilizing the Economy for War Wartime production officially ended the Depression War Production Board: Established to coordinate production of war materials o Halted production of nonessential materials o Imposed national speed limit to conserve rubber

War Production In full war mode, the U.S. was producing weapons faster than anybody around thought that it would or could. In one month, the U.S. was able to produce up to 4,000 tanks and 4,500 planes. Ship production also increased dramatically to help protect our coasts.

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

Unintended Benefit Women joined the workforce. Before the war, only about 3 million worked in the U.S. Most were housewives and raised families. Desperate for workers to produce weapons, women replaced the men that went to war.

WOMEN MAKE GAINS Women enjoyed economic gains during the war, although many lost their jobs after the war Over 6 million women entered the work force for the first time Over 1/3 were in the defense industry.

Women in WWII Benefited from huge demand for labor because of wartime production Many American women entered workforce for first time o “Rosie the Riveter”—icon of women worker o Women told it was their patriotic duty to work o Women who worked before the war were able to get better paying jobs when war began

Did Women’s Roles Really Change? Men continued to dominate supervisory positions Women still paid less WOMEN FORCED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE AT THE END OF THE WAR! o 1950s: Women return role of housewives in suburbs Women veterans were not recognized for benefits until 1979.

Race in World War II Racism in military o Soldiers of color enlisted, but in segregated units o Many of these units were the most decorated of the war African-Americans: Tuskegee Airmen Mexican-Americans: Company E of the 141 st Regiment Japanese Americans: 442 nd Regimental Combat Team Native-Americans: Served in Marine Corps as Navajo Code Talkers

African-Americans During War Double Victory campaign: Victory against dictators abroad, and racism at home Some victories: more job opportunities, increased migration to North and West (esp. CA) Still, much racism: blacks paid less, discriminated in housing, in public facilities

African-American Resistance Blacks begin organizing: o 1941: A. Philip Randolph threatened to march on Washington to protest prejudice against African-American workers o In response to threat, Roosevelt banned discrimination in government agencies. o Established the Fair Employment Practices Commission to insure equal treatment for African- Americans and other minorities in war industries. o Still, results limited. When GIs returned, blacks still first to lose jobs. o All of this is an important precedent to Civil Rights movement.

Mexican-Americans Mexican-Americans: o Served in quasi-segregated military units, often in the most hazardous branches o Mexican-American workers found jobs in SW agriculture & west coast industry o Faced discrimination, especially during the Zoot Suit Riots

Racial Tensions in LA during WWII Racism against Mexican Americans and the fear of teen crime Mexican American teenagers who wore “zoot suits” were targeted. June 1943: 2500 soldiers and sailors attacked Mexican American neighborhoods in LA

POPULATION SHIFTS The war triggered the greatest mass migration in American history. More than a million newcomers poured into California between African-Americans again shifted from south to north.

Success on the Home Front The war provided a lift to the U.S. economy Jobs were abundant and despite rationing and shortages, people had money to spend. By the end of the war, America was the world’s dominant economic and military power.

ECONOMIC GAINS Unemployment fell to only 1.2% by 1944 and wages rose 35% Farmers benefited as production doubled and their income tripled

G.I. BILL HELPS RETURNING VETS To help returning servicemen ease back into civilian life, Congress passed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (G.I. Bill of Rights) The act provided education for 7.8 million vets.

WWII a Benefit for US Unlike rest of world economies, US’ actually grows during and after WWII Government worked more directly to regulate the economy than ever before! Official end to Depression Postwar economy will continue to depend on military spending. Despite higher taxes, national debt rose to new levels. o War cost $10 million an hour