WWII and American Life Mobilizing for War, Home Front, and Propaganda Objective 10.03

How Involved Should We Be? Nye Committee (1934)Nye Committee (1934) –Studied reasons for U.S. involvement in WWI –Found that it was in American commercial interest for the Britain not to lose Had loaned them $2.3 billion from Had loaned them $2.3 billion from

How Involved Should We Be? Neutrality Acts ( )Neutrality Acts ( ) –Growth of isolationism & non- interventionism –U.S. could not be involved with any “belligerents” Included Britain & Germany – Did not matter that Germany was aggressorIncluded Britain & Germany – Did not matter that Germany was aggressor

How Involved Should We Be? Cash & Carry (1939)Cash & Carry (1939) –Neutrality Act of 1939 –Allowed sale of military items to the belligerents as long as they paid in cash and came and picked it up Favored British – Germany could not trade across the Atlantic because it was controlled by the Royal NavyFavored British – Germany could not trade across the Atlantic because it was controlled by the Royal Navy

How Involved Should We Be? Lend-Lease (1941)Lend-Lease (1941) –U.S. “loans” Allied nations war materials In return, U.S. gets military bases in the Pacific & CaribbeanIn return, U.S. gets military bases in the Pacific & Caribbean

How Involved Should We Be? Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” (Jan. 1941)Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” (Jan. 1941) 1.Freedom of speech & expression 2.Freedom of worship 3.Freedom from want 4.Freedom from fear FDR makes it clear that he wants to become involved in the war FDR makes it clear that he wants to become involved in the war Asks Congress to approve a massive arms build-up to give to Britain Asks Congress to approve a massive arms build-up to give to Britain

Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941December 7, 1941 The United States is attack by Japan!The United States is attack by Japan! FDR no longer has to continue breaking isolationist policyFDR no longer has to continue breaking isolationist policy –We declare war the next day

Mobilizing for War IndustryIndustry –Became greatest in the world –Started before Pearl Harbor –Cost-Plus helped production—paid companies the cost of producing goods plus percentage –Industries switched—automobile plants produced tanks, etc.

Building ForcesBuilding Forces –Selective Service and Training Act Passed in Sept. 1940Passed in Sept First peace time conscriptionFirst peace time conscription –G.I.s Aptitude tests and physical examsAptitude tests and physical exams Low supplies for trainingLow supplies for training

–Segregated military Many didn’t want to fightMany didn’t want to fight Often given service jobsOften given service jobs –Women Women’s Army Corps (WAC)Women’s Army Corps (WAC) –Est –Over 150,000 served 68,000 nurses served68,000 nurses served

The Home Front WomenWomen –4 million clerical jobs –2.5 million factory jobs –“Rosie the Riveter” posters called for hiring women

MinoritiesMinorities –Great Migration resumes –African Americans demand work Exec. Order 8802, 1941—no discriminationExec. Order 8802, 1941—no discrimination –200,000 Mexicans migrated to help farmers in the SW

Daily LifeDaily Life –Rationing FoodFood Gas and rubberGas and rubber Coupon BooksCoupon Books –Victory Gardens Pushed by propagandaPushed by propaganda Made anywhere possibleMade anywhere possible

Scrap DrivesScrap Drives –Collection of spare rubber and metal –Donations of pots, tires, bumpers, broken radiators, rusted bikes, etc. –Set up fat collecting stations Paying for WarPaying for War –Spent $300 billion –Raised taxes –War Bonds

Propaganda War PostersWar Posters NewsreelsNewsreels PamphletsPamphlets

Japanese Internment Japanese attack spurred hatred towards Japanese-AmericanJapanese attack spurred hatred towards Japanese-American 1942 – Mass evacuation of Japanese from Hawaii1942 – Mass evacuation of Japanese from Hawaii

Japanese Internment 1942 – Japanese in California, Oregon, Washington & Arizona sent to “relocation centers” inland1942 – Japanese in California, Oregon, Washington & Arizona sent to “relocation centers” inland Over 100,000 sentOver 100,000 sent

Korematsu v. United States (1944) Is Executive Order 9066 constitutional? Supreme Court rules that the relocation of Japanese-Americans to internment camps is constitutional because it is a “military necessity.”