1. American Homefront

2. Impacts on the Homefront Women Families Economy Internment Pop Culture Race Relations Propaganda Military

3. Women  Over 6 million joined the workforce  Mostly industrial, made 40% less than men  “Rosie the Riveter”  Women in the military  WAAC (Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps) non combat roles  WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) transport planes  WAVES (Women Accepted Volunteer Emergency Service) Navy  Unlike WWI, many of these changes stuck after the war ended

5. Families  Mothers working- fathers off at war  Teenagers drifted, became delinquents  Child care, relatives– mothers no longer in the home  When fathers returned from war, many had a hard time adjusting and getting to know each other again  Increased Marriages  Up 300% as the war began!  Young men eager to marry before they left for war!

6. Economic Changes  Unemployment dropped to 1.2%!  Farmers prospered  Good weather (end of Dust Bowl), increased production  War Bond Investments

7. Internment  110,000 Japanese immigrants (Citizens & aliens)  Placed in 10 different camps  Korematsu v. United States  Internment deemed legal in “time of crisis”

9. Pop Culture  Cartoons  Propaganda films, used popular cartoons to sell bonds & raise support  Appeal to children, families  Music  War time themes; religion mixed with current events  Big band, swing most popular

14. Race Relations  Discrimination  Black Americans rejected from jobs, military  A. Philip Randolph (labor leader marched on Washington)  Roosevelt signed order require non-discrimination in hiring  Zoot Suit Riots  July 1943 Los Angelos  11 Sailors claimed they were attacked by Mexican Americans (“Zoot suits”)  Days of violent rights

16. Propaganda  Racist symbols and cartoons  Aimed usually to invoke patriotism  Some for citizens, some aimed at soldiers  Supported- draft, rationing, war bonds, democracy

18. Military  Draft  Selective Service- all men 18-35  5 million volunteered  10 million drafted  GI Bill (1944)  Home loans, and college tuition for those who served  Minorities  Tuskegee Airmen- all black combat unit, major wins in Italy  “The Buffaloes” (92 nd Infantry) one of most decorated units!  100 th Batallion – all Japanese; most decorated unit! (Known as Purple Heart Battalion)