1. Topic 6b – World War II at Home
Objective: Explain how World War II affected the American people at home.
Relevance: This lesson will help you learn how the U.S. government acts during a time of war, the expectations and actions of the American people during war and how these actions contribute to success in the conflict while also contributing problems at home.

2. Building the Military 1941 – 3.5 million military personnel
Objective: Explain how World War II affected the American people at home.
Building the Military
1941 – 3.5 million military personnel
1945 – 8 million military personnel
“unified” the nation to progress toward a common goal
Still racism and segregation, even in the military but overall progress was made in this area as many ethnicities work with one another.
Because Americans rallied against Hitler, and the fascism/dictatorship he presented.
How did World War II help to ease tension or misunderstandings between groups of Americans?

3. Minority Military contributions
Objective: Explain how World War II affected the American people at home.
Minority Military contributions
African Americans
Tuskegee Airmen
“Double V”
Japanese Americans
Allowed 2nd generations to fight out of internment.
Most decorated in US military history.
Mexican Americans
300,000 served
17 Congressional Medal of Honor
“Entrance into the Army in August, 1942, widened my horizons literally as well as experientially: for the first time I travelled beyond a 200 mile radius from Newark. I marveled at the flatness of the prarie in Illinois….Stops at posts in Miami Beach, Florida, and Richmond, Virginia, were my introduction to the American South.” – Carl Degler
Using the primary source above, why might entering the Army have changed a person’s perspective?

4. American Economy RECOVERED!
Objective: Explain how World War II affected the American people at home.
American Economy
RECOVERED!
19 million new jobs (mostly war production)
Unemployment around 1%
Gov. asks business to build weapons to win the war. Business complies.
Gov. guaranteed to pay for costs of war plus guaranteed profit under the Cost-Plus plan.
Ford Motor Company
Produces tanks, aircraft, rifles, helmets, artillery, Jeep’s.
Reconstruction Finance Corporation lent money to business to produce weapons
War Production Board-convert factories for wartime needs
What happened to the American economy during World War II?

5. Life on the Homefront Daily Life Rationing Victory Gardens
Objective: Explain how World War II affected the American people at home.
Life on the Homefront
Daily Life
Rationing
Limiting the purchase of, many products to ensure enough were available for military use
Victory Gardens
Growing food at home to save mass produced food for troops
Office of War Information
Hollywood used to create news segments and propaganda to encourage support for the war.
Why did Americans ration goods in stores?
How did the American government convince people to do these things?

6. Life on the Homefront Labor shortages due to the war.
Objective: Explain how World War II affected the American people at home.
Life on the Homefront
Labor shortages due to the war.
Women and minorities are hired to fill in the gaps.
Women work in the military
Clerics, nurses, administrative roles
Women work in the factories
Took husbands jobs while fighting.
Voluntarily worked to support their family through the end of the Depression
18.8 million women working
Developed a sense of independence and self-reliance.  Leads to future women’s movements in America.
How did World War II affect women in the United States?

7. Life on the Homefront African-Americans Mexican-Americans
Objective: Explain how World War II affected the American people at home.
Life on the Homefront
African-Americans
Demanded jobs and integration into the military.
Fair Employment Practices Commission – ensured the prevention of workplace discrimination.
Race riots in Detroit, 1943
Mexican-Americans
Bracero Program
Gov. pays laborers to farm in the Southwest.
Zoot-suit Riots
Fighting between Mexican-Americans and Los Angeles soldiers.
How did African Americans benefit during World War II? How did Mexican-Americans benefit during World War II?
Why would Roosevelt remove discrimination from the factories and government during the 1940s?

8. Life on the Homefront Japanese-Americans
Objective: Explain how World War II affected the American people at home.
Life on the Homefront
Japanese-Americans
Executive Order 9066
Forcibly interned at various camps across America.
Seen as a threat to the country.
“Potential spies”
Korematsu v. United States, 1944
Toyosaburo Korematsu wouldn’t leave San Leandro, CA
Was being forced into an internment camp.
Sued for his right to stay.
“In their decision, the majority of the Supreme Court, found that, although exclusion orders based on race are constitutionally suspect, the government is justified in time of ‘emergency and peril’ to suspend citizens’ civil rights.”
Why did the Supreme Court find in favor of the government in this case, even though the justices were suspicious of exclusion based on race?
Under what circumstances, if any, do you think the government should be able to suspend civil liberties of all or specific groups of American citizens?