World War II: Americans at War (1941–1945)

Roosevelt gives the “4 freedoms” speech. Freedom of speech Freedom from fear Freedom from want Freedom of worship Click me to hear about the Four Freedoms!

Mobilizing the Armed Forces In 1939, the size of the US armed forces ranked only 19 th in the world (behind Portugal) In 1939, the size of the US armed forces ranked only 19 th in the world (behind Portugal) Roosevelt’s focus shifts from fighting Depression to preparing for war. Roosevelt’s focus shifts from fighting Depression to preparing for war.

Sept. 1940—first peacetime draft in US history. Congress authorized the first peacetime draft in the nation’s history. The Selective Training and Service Act required all males aged 21 to 36 to register for military service. Congress authorized the first peacetime draft in the nation’s history. The Selective Training and Service Act required all males aged 21 to 36 to register for military service.

defense spending raised from $2 billion to more than $10 billion in the course of a year. defense spending raised from $2 billion to more than $10 billion in the course of a year. More than 16 million Americans served as soldiers, sailors, and aviators in the war. They called themselves GIs, an abbreviation of “Government Issue.” More than 16 million Americans served as soldiers, sailors, and aviators in the war. They called themselves GIs, an abbreviation of “Government Issue.”

Women! About 350,000 American women volunteered for military service by the war’s end. Military officials allowed them to work in almost all areas, except combat.

What types of jobs did women hold during WWII? Steelworkers and welders “Rosie the Riveter” Better paying jobs than they were used to holding

How were women workers affected by WWII? Extra money helped support their families Extra money helped support their families Proud of contributing to the war effort Proud of contributing to the war effort Still faced obstacles Still faced obstacles Resented by some men Resented by some men Lack of child care Lack of child care Earned less than men for the same work Earned less than men for the same work

Women workers - postWWII Expected to give up their jobs for returning soldiers Return to “normalcy” Housewives and mothers Womens’ mags Advice on homemaking, cooking, and child care

…to THIS! Preparing the Economy for War A. FDR pushed industries to move to making war goods. B. Jan gov’t set up War Production Board C. Convert from peacetime to wartime From this….

Examples: --Ford converts some factories to Air force factories. --In Wilmington – Dravo starts building landing craft while P&J make Liberty Ships!

Building Tanks at the Chrysler plant in Newark, DE As the production of consumer goods stopped, factories converted to war production. As the production of consumer goods stopped, factories converted to war production. Ford Motor Company built B-24 bombers with the same assembly-line techniques used to manufacture cars. Ford Motor Company built B-24 bombers with the same assembly-line techniques used to manufacture cars.

E. Each year US increased production goals, eventually doubling the production of Axis Powers. F. Helps the workforce— unemployment nearly disappears. – so long Depression!

Union membership increases by over 1.5 million! after the attack on Pearl Harbor, labor and management agreed to refrain from strikes and lockouts.

Daily life on the homefront A. Nearly everyone had a relative or friend in the military

War effort led to shortages on typical goods—ex metal, rubber Look familiar? Look familiar? Scrap Metal Drive – Middletown, DE Shortages led to rise in reading of books and magazines, movies, and sporting events Less travel…

FDR leads effort to advertise winning the war at home Collection Drives— metal, fat, cloth, food, etc Collection Drives— metal, fat, cloth, food, etc

Victory Gardens home vegetable garden planted to add to the home food supply and replace farm produce sent to feed the soldiers. home vegetable garden planted to add to the home food supply and replace farm produce sent to feed the soldiers. By 1943, victory gardens produced about one third of the country’s fresh vegetables. By 1943, victory gardens produced about one third of the country’s fresh vegetables.

Daily Life on the Home Front Wartime jobs gave many people their first extra cash since the Depression. Still, shortages and rationing limited the goods that people could buy. Wartime jobs gave many people their first extra cash since the Depression. Still, shortages and rationing limited the goods that people could buy.

The supply of food also fell short of demand. The supply of food also fell short of demand. The Office of Price Administration (OPA) was established to control inflation by limiting prices and rents. The Office of Price Administration (OPA) was established to control inflation by limiting prices and rents. The OPA also oversaw rationing, or the fair distribution of scarce items, during the war. The OPA also oversaw rationing, or the fair distribution of scarce items, during the war.

Ration card

Ration stamps

Gas Rationing 3 to 4 gallons per week 8 gallons per week (military industry worker) Truckers – 8 Gallons plus – depending on work UNLIMITED! Congress, ministers, firemen, police

Gas Rationing

How To Pay for it all?

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The government understood the need to maintain morale. It encouraged citizens to participate in the war effort. The Office of War Information worked with the media to create posters and ads that stirred patriotism. PROPAGANDA!

Propaganda Used by all sides Used by all sides Meant to influence your thoughts! Meant to influence your thoughts! Instill patriotism, confidence, and a positive outlook Instill patriotism, confidence, and a positive outlook Or … Or … sought to ward off complacency with grim, scary or unromantic visions of war. sought to ward off complacency with grim, scary or unromantic visions of war.

Propaganda Positive or negative? Positive or negative?

Germany One People, One People, One Nation, One Nation, One Leader! One Leader!

England

Soviet Union Motherland is Calling You!

Japan

Italy The Fault Falls on Them! The Fault Falls on Them!

The “golden age” of comics Reflection of racist stereotypes Reflection of racist stereotypes Propaganda for kids?? Propaganda for kids??

Airplane spotters (Georgetown)

Effects of WWII – African Americans Migration from South to North Migration from South to North New job opportunities New job opportunities Same discrimination and segregation Same discrimination and segregation not as blatant as in the South not as blatant as in the South 1942 – Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) 1942 – Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Founded to fight racial discrimination Founded to fight racial discrimination

Effects of WWII – Mexican & Native Americans  Native Americans  Moved to cities for war production jobs New experience Mexican Americans New jobs in shipbuilding & aircraft Govt encouraged Mexicans to come to the US Farm worker shortage

Japanese-Americans Issei = Japanese who emigrated to America Nisei = Their children, born in the United States and U.S. citizens.

Japanese Americans At the onset of WWII there were about 120,000 Japanese Americans living in the United States At the onset of WWII there were about 120,000 Japanese Americans living in the United States Most of them lived on the West Coast Most of them lived on the West Coast 2/3rds of those were born in the U.S. 2/3rds of those were born in the U.S.

After Pearl Harbor Prejudice grew as rumors flew of Japanese Americans being spies and saboteurs for Japan Prejudice grew as rumors flew of Japanese Americans being spies and saboteurs for Japan (Dec. 19, 1941) The Los Angeles Times

Executive Order 9066 February 19, 1942 FDR signed an order to establish military zones on the West Coast and to remove all Japanese Americans from there February 19, 1942 FDR signed an order to establish military zones on the West Coast and to remove all Japanese Americans from there a "military necessity" to protect against domestic espionage and sabotage a "military necessity" to protect against domestic espionage and sabotage

Life in the internment camp

“Loyalty Questions” “Loyalty Questions” What’s the problem with answering “Yes and Yes”? What’s the problem with answering “Yes and Yes”? What’s the problem answering “No-No”? What’s the problem answering “No-No”?

Tula Lake Tula Lake

Proving loyalty Proving loyalty

composed primarily of Japanese Americans, served with uncommon distinction in Europe composed primarily of Japanese Americans, served with uncommon distinction in Europe the U.S. soldiers serving in the unit had their families interned at home while they fought abroad. the U.S. soldiers serving in the unit had their families interned at home while they fought abroad. It is the most decorated unit in US military history It is the most decorated unit in US military history Its 14,000 men earned over awards including 9,486 purple hearts and 21 medals of honor Its 14,000 men earned over awards including 9,486 purple hearts and 21 medals of honor The 442 nd regiment

Going home Going home

On January 2, 1945, the camps began to close. On January 2, 1945, the camps began to close. $25 and a train ticket The freed internees were given $25 and a train ticket to their former homes. The majority returned to their former lives, some of the Japanese Americans emigrated to Japan The last internment camp was not closed until 1946

1988 – Apology 1988 – Apology "a grave injustice was done” "a grave injustice was done” a signed apology from the President of the United States and a check for $20,000 was sent to each living person who had been forced to live in an internment camp during the war.