1. WWII – The Home front
Even though the citizens of the U.S. pushed for revenge against Japan, the military and gov’t leaders decided to concentrate on Germany first because:
1) The British and the
Soviets might be defeated
giving Hitler control over
all of Europe. 2) Germany
could become a direct threat
to the U.S. 3) The Americans
had the ability to contain
Japan until Germany’s defeat. 4) All of the allies could fight Japan together following a German surrender.

2. WWII – The Home front
Results of the attack on Pearl Harbor totally united Americans and accelerated assimilation for most ethnic groups. The exception was the Japanese who were isolated in internment camps due to fear over their questioned loyalties via Executive Order 9066.
Gov't produced interment camp film

3. WWII – The Home front
The Pearl Harbor attack brought an end to the New Deal as Americans shifted their focus and finances to war preparation. The war became the number one priority for the American citizens, government, and military.

4. WWII – The Home front
The War Production Board (WPB) was responsible for overseeing the transition of peace time manufacturing to the production of war time goods. It included means of production, quotas, deadlines, and the allocation of raw materials. Army film on the power of industry

5. WWII – The Home front
27 aircraft carriers, 10 battleships, 48 cruisers, 420 destroyers, and 203 submarines,
Japanese Navy: 14 Aircraft carriers
100,000 fighter aircraft, 98,000 bombers, 24,000 transports, 58,000 training aircraft (280k total)
GB 120k USSR 150k GER 120k JAP 80k
93,000 tanks, 257,000 artillery pieces, 105,000 mortars, 3,000,000 machine guns, and
 2,500,000 military trucks. GER/JAP 24k Tanks
US 40% of all production. Next closest 14%
16.1 million men in uniform in the various armed services

6. WWII – The Home front

7. WWII – The Home front
As a part of the mobilization effort the Office of Price Administration (OPA) was set up to regulate prices, control inflation, and ration scarce resources, however Sec. of War Stimson preferred free market solutions to maximize production.

8. WWII – The Home front
Over 275,000 women volunteered for military service. In addition to thousands of army nurses, the Navy’s WAVES, and Army’s WAC’s filled support roles in all areas. Women filled manufacturing jobs that were traditionally held by men. Rosie the Riveter became a celebrated image of the greatest generation and American womenhood. Women were also behind the USO which served as a GI’s “home away from home”, entertaining , serving, and encouraging millions of troops.
Andrews Sisters
USO Club interviews

9. WWII – The Home Front

10. WWII – The Home front
The primary demographic shifts of WWII were black Americans into northern cities seeking work, returning soldiers migration to the sun belt, and white city dwellers to the emerging suburbia.
Code talkers were Navajo Indians who were recruited to pass communications via the
spoken Navajo language.
The language had no
written alphabet,
making it extremely
difficult for the Japanese
to intercept and translate.

11. WWII – The Home front
America’s participation in WWII doubled the GNP, increased corporate profits, stimulated investment, and increased wages, bringing the Great Depression to a close.
The Office of War Information was set up to raise public support for the war, censor news and information, and promote patriotism, sacrifice, and participation.
The government financed the war by increasing taxes on individuals, specifically the wealthiest Americans and corporations, and by borrowing money, primarily from the American people via war bonds.
Bugs Bunny selling war bonds

12. WWII – The Home Front