1. WWII on the Homefront
APUSH
Ms. Weston
3/9/07

2. Determining War Strategy
Many Americans only goal was to get revenge on Japan
Despite this, in the ABC-1 Agreement, US agreed to “Beat Hitler First” strategy
Knew we could never win war unless defeated Hitler
Sent most troops to Europe, just enough to Pacific to stop Japanese offense

3. The Importance of Time
US had to build up wartime economy quickly, since Britain and USSR fighting alone and weak
US had great potential in terms of military and production, but it needed time to build up both

4. The fear of “enemy aliens”
Public rallied behind WWII like never before
Many feared that immigrant groups were not unified with allied cause and were actually enemy agents
Germans and Italians: forced to move away from military bases, dealt with curfews, often jailed as spies without proof

5. Japanese Internment
Executive Order 9066: Ordered all Japanese-Americans on West Coast, regardless of age, birthplace of gender, into internment camps for duration of war.
Deprived Japanese of essential rights, many lost all life savings when had to pack up to go to camps.
1944 Korematsu v. US: Upheld internment as necessary
1988: US officially apologized and paid $20,000 in reparations

6. Mobilizing the Economy for War
Wartime production officially ended the Depression
War Production Board: Established to coordinate production of war materials
Halted production of nonessential materials
Imposed national speed limit to conserve rubber

7. Mobilizing the Economy for War ctnd.
Office of Price Administration: To curb wartime inflation
Set price ceilings
Established rationing of critical goods (meat, butter)
National War Labor Board: To keep workers in factories
Imposed ceilings on wage increases
Required 30 days notice before strike
Many unhappy workers still went on strike

8. Building up troops 15 million men and 250,000 women enlisted
Women in non-combat positions
WAACs (army), WAVES (navy)
To keep production going, certain groups of workers eliminated from draft
Still, drain on agricultural workers led government to create bracero program with Mexico.

9. Women in WWII
Benefited from huge demand for labor because of wartime production
Many American women entered workforce for first time
“Rosie the Riveter”—icon of women worker
Women told it was their patriotic duty to work
Over 6 million women entered the workforce
Women who worked before the war were able to get better paying jobs when war began

10. Did Women’s Roles Really Change?
Men continued to dominate supervisory positions
Women still paid less
WOMEN FORCED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE AT THE END OF THE WAR!
1950s: Women return role of housewives in suburbs
Women veterans were not recognized for benefits until 1979.

11. Wartime Migrations
Many moved into new boomtowns: Los Angeles, Detroit, Seattle
Federal government gave most defense contracts to South
Increased population in region known as “Sunbelt”

12. Race in World War II Racism in military
Soldiers of color enlisted, but in segregated units
Many of these units were the most decorated of the war
African-Americans: Tuskegee Airmen
Mexican-Americans: Company E of the 141st Regiment
Japanese Americans: 442nd Regimental Combat Team
Native-Americans: Served in Marine Corps as Navajo Code Talkers

13. African-Americans During War
Double Victory campaign: Victory against dictators abroad, and racism at home
Some victories: more job opportunities, increased migration to North and West (esp. CA)
Still, much racism: blacks paid less, discriminated in housing, in public facilities

14. African-American Resistance
Blacks begin organizing:
1941: A. Philip Randolph threatened to march on Washington to protest prejudice against African-American workers
In response to threat, Roosevelt banned discrimination in government agencies.
Established the Fair Employment Practices Commission to insure equal treatment for African-Americans and other minorities in war industries.
Still, results limited. When GIs returned, blacks still first to lose jobs.
All of this is an important precedent to Civil Rights movement.

15. Racial Tensions in LA during WWII
Racism against Mexican Americans and the fear of teen crime
Mexican American teenagers who wore “zoot suits” were targeted.
June 1943: 2500 soldiers and sailors attacked Mexican American neighborhoods in LA

16. WWII a Benefit for US
Unlike rest of world economies, US’ actually grows during and after WWII
Government worked more directly to regulate the economy than ever before!
Official end to Depression
Postwar economy will continue to depend on military spending.
Despite higher taxes, national debt rose to new levels.
War cost $10 million an hour