The Homefront

FDR Utilizes Propaganda Fighting for the Four Freedoms  Freedom of Speech  Freedom of Worship  Freedom from Want  Freedom from Fear

OCD: Office of Civilian Defense FDR: “Contribute an hour a day for the USA.”  Volunteer air raid wardens Blackouts enforced to conserve energy  “Spy the Sky” You never know when the enemy might attack  Grow a “Victory Garden” 40% of vegetables produced during the war were grown by citizens, in their personal gardens  Recycle, reuse Patriotic to contribute newspaper, rubber, aluminum, tin, etc.

OWI: Office of War Information Coordinated war news from federal bureaucracy Newspapers, radio & movies used to inform all Americans of progress & policies Government enlists the help of Hollywood & Celebes  Warner Brothers: Army Air Force First Motion Picture Unit Training videos Recruiting propaganda (Jimmy Stewart) Roles of Civilians  “Pinups” Betty Grable & Rita Hayworth  Bob Hope organizes the USO (United Service Org.) to entertain the troops!

An Economic Shift Relief and Recovery achieved  GNP: $90.5 Billion (‘39) to $212 Billion (’45)  17 million jobs created Overtime available to whomever wanted it New workers needed  Female employment raises from 25% to 34%  Total of 6 million  Rosie the Riveter  Many wanted to continue to work, forced to leave!

WPB: War Productions Board December 7, 1941  15% of Industry devoted to war production WPB Goal  Convince industry to switch from civilian to military production  Out with consumer goods, in with products of war  Need: 300,000 planes, 86,000 tanks, 76,000 ships, 2.6 million machine guns, 40 billion bullets Success  New plant constructed with government help  Merchant ships: 105 days to construct (’41) to 14 days (’45)  Some plants ordered to slow down!

Economic Problems Persist Full employment spurs consumerism  Better wages creates increase demand 25% hourly wage increase 70% weekly salary increase  Short supply of consumer goods leads to price increase for “luxury” items  Inflation not far behind NWLB: National War Labor Board  Purpose: control rapid inflation (15% in 3 yrs)  CPI (consumer price index) indicates wages and price rose in conjunction with one another.

OPA: Office of Price Administration Goal: reduce demand Procedure  Set price ceilings (maximums)  Institute rationing system Coupons needed to purchase food, gas, shoes, etc  First national speed limit created (gas & rubber) Determined by size of the family, occupation, etc  Most families, 4 gallons of gas a week Violations: 10 years in prison, $10,000 fine  Black market created

Paying for the War Estimated $321 Billion to fight the war  Only 40% generate from taxes 1942 – Revenue Act establishes federal income tax  1913 – first federal income tax law written  For the first time, individuals and corporations mandated to pay tax on the money they made the previous year – Employers offer payroll deduction as option Liberty Bonds sold again  Generate 60% of war budget  Hollywood recruited once again  Stamp collections Kids encouraged to help ($18.75 investment, 10 years later $25)