Mobilizing for Defense Chapter 17, Section 1 Pages 562-568
Objectives Explain how the United States expanded its armed forces in WW II. Describe the wartime mobilization of industry, labor, scientists, and the media. Trace the efforts of the US government to control the economy and deal with alleged subversion.
Main Idea Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States mobilized for war.
Why It Matters Now Military industries in the United States today are a major part of the American economy.
Selective Service 5 million volunteer Two ocean war in Europe and the Pacific 10 million drafted Selective Service System
Expanding the Military Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) 350,000 serve Nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, electricians, and pilots. Women in Uniform Genders are integrated in 1978
Problems for Working Women Hostile reaction from other men Restricted fraternization No child care Wage discrepancies for equal work Willow Run in 1945 Women = $2,928 per year Men = $3,363 per year
The Postwar Push to “Demobilize” Women Women wanted to stay working Pressure from returning servicemen was intense Industry and government made campaigns encouraging women to return to the home Women work part-time to supplement incomes
Dramatic Contributions African Americans in WW II 1 million serve Lived and worked in segregated units Limited combat roles Double “V” Campaign
Dramatic Contributions A. Phillip Randolph FDR signs Fair Employment Practices Exec Order Start of Modern Civil Rights Movement War Veteran Jackie Robinson & MLB
Dramatic Contributions 300,000 Mexican Americans 13,000 Chinese Americans 1 out of every 5 adult males Chinese exclusion laws still banned immigration and naturalization process 33,000 Japanese Americans 25,000 Native Americans
The Industrial Response Arsenal of Democracy Conversion of peacetime industries Henry Kaiser’s Liberty Ships built in 4 days using prefabrication methods
Labor’s Contributions 18 million workers 6 million of these were women 2 million minority workers The war ends the Great Depression The 1943 Post Cover by Norman Rockwell. Copyright by the Curtis Publishing Company and reproduced here with their kind permission. 1943 SEPS: Licensed by Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN
Hollywood Helps Mobilize Early on movies energized Americans to join the war effort. Across the Pacific (1942) Action in the North Atlantic (1943) Air Force (1943) All Through the Night (1935) Back to Bataan (1945) Bataan (1943) Black Dragons (1942) Blood on the Sun (1945) Bombs Over Burma(1943) Destination Tokyo (1943) Dive Bomber (1941) The Fighting Seabees (1944) Flying Tigers (1942) Gung Ho! (1943) They Were Expendable (1945) Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
American Propaganda Domestic propaganda As the war dragged on, people grew weary of the war’s grim reality. Hollywood responded with musicals and romances that allowed viewers to escape.
Scientists Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) Radar, sonar Pesticides Penicillin Atomic bomb The Manhattan Project Begins
Economic Controls Fighting Inflation Office of Price Administration (OPA) froze prices on most goods. Raised and extended income taxes to limit consumer spending. Sale of war bonds.
Economic Controls Reserving Resources War Production Board (WPB) allocated raw materials to industry. Started recycling drives.
Economic Controls Rationing Established fixed allotments of goods deemed essential for the war effort. Ration books