1. Warm-up:

2. The Home Front
WWII

3. America Joins the Struggle
In 1941, FDR and Winston Churchill met in secret and drafted the Atlantic Charter
The U.S. entered the war at a critical time for the Allies; production levels of other Allies had dropped sharply
Factories converted from consumer goods to war production ( guns & butter)
Dozens of agencies established to deal with war production:
Office of War Mobilization
War Production Board

4. President Roosevelt knew he needed to strengthen military
Congress passed first peacetime draft- Selective Training and Service Act--all males had to register
Americans from all ethnic and racial backgrounds fought
About 350,000 American women volunteered
16 million served-”GI’s”
(National Archives)

5. Financing the War
U.S. govt. vowed to spend whatever was necessary on the war
Federal spending increased from $8.9 billion in 1939 to $95.2 billion in 1945
Raised income taxes covered 41%; borrowed rest
Boosted national debt from $43 billion in to $269 billion in (deficit spending)
Launched bond drives

6. The U.S. Homefront
Wartime jobs gave many people the first extra cash since the depression
Supply often fell short of demand; rationing occurred; the OPA controlled inflation by limiting prices and rents
Americans looked for other ways to spend money: bought and read more books and magazines; went to baseball games and movies
Government encouraged citizens to participate in war effort

7. Rationing

8. Getting Citizens Involved
It was important to have the citizens at home feel like they were doing their part during the war.
Propaganda encouraged citizen support.

10. Social Impact of WWII Women left the home and worked in industry
Became welders and steel workers and did other jobs typically only men’s jobs
Changed the family dynamic with moms working outside the home
Everyone pitched in for the war effort
Popular culture/society was very patriotic with very high morale

11. Social Impact of WWII African Americans Mexican Americans
In 1941, 1 in 5 were jobless
President signed Executive Order 8802 which opened jobs and job training programs in defense plants “without discrimination because race, creed, color, or national origin”
More that 2 million migrated north
Fought in military in segregated units
Mexican Americans
Served in military, contributed to economy, but face discrimination
Agreement between Mexico & U.S. providing for transportation, food, shelter, and medical attention for thousands of “braceros”
Brought a rise in Latino population in southern California
Zoot Suit Riots

13. Native Americans Japanese Americans 25,000 fought in the military
Migrated to urban centers for defense jobs
Cultural transition brought a sense of having lost their roots
Played an important role as “code talkers” in the Pacific theater
Japanese Americans
Hostility towards Japanese Americans grew to hatred and hysteria after Pearl Harbor
War Relocation Authority removed all people of Japanese ancestry to internment camps away from west coast
After 1943, Japanese were accepted into armed forces and many won recognition for their courage in Europe

15. Activity: