1. The War At Home

2. Introduction US remained in economic depression through 1941
America struggled to unite against enemy AND pull itself out of Depression
War is always good business
Govt. spending on war material puts people to work, and gets economy to grow
Problems would still remain
Who would work, who would serve in military

3. Building up US Military
Selective Service System
Reenacted the draft
Five million men volunteered…10 million need to fight two front war
Rapid training (8 week basic training)
Numbers, not quality soldiers needed at outset of war

4. Women & War Women’s Auxiliary Army Corp (WAAC)
1st official enlistment of women in military positions (noncombat)
Women served as nurses, electricians, cargo pilots
Not until 1943 given full benefits as men

5. Minorities
US military remained segregated into units with less pay & inferior equipment
Many black units did not see combat until 1944
30,000 Japanese-American volunteers into Navy

6. Building up US War Machine
Converting civilian businesses
Big three auto manufacturers closed for 1 month to convert assembly lines to build tanks, planes boats
Bedspread company converted to make mosquito nets

7. Labor relations
Mass production of war material led to hiring binge…too many positions for not enough workers
Six million women entered manufacturing work force to replace men serving overseas

8. Science…The New Technology of Death
University researchers created new innovations to help war effort
Office of Scientific Research & Development—fed. Program coordinating effort
Led to sonar, DDT pesticide, penicillin, etc.
The bomb
Manhattan Project—program funded in response to German plan to build bomb with nuclear fission

9. Govt. Controls
Government froze prices, raised income tax & regulated production to ensure that war effort would succeed and economy would not collapse
Rationing
Govt. issued rationed books limited purchases on gas, food, dry goods, etc. to ensure that troops overseas would not be cut short
Americans viewed rationing as simple patriotic effort

10. American Society & War Improving Economy
1944—unemployment fell 5% for first time since 1929
Average household income rose 35%
Farmers income increased as food production soared

11. Families Traditional families grew as young couples quickly married
GI Bill (1944)
Legislation passed to ease transition back to peacetime
Gave veterans tuition for college, help with home mortgages
Would lead to Baby boom of late 1940’s

12. Civil Rights African Americans Mexican Americans
Blacks protested segregated military units and unfair hiring practices
CORE (Congress of Racial Equality)
Protests turned violent in northern cities
Mexican Americans
Zoot Suit Riots
LA Latino community attacked by returning soldiers following gang attacks

13. Japanese Americans
US fears of sabotage by Japanese descendants in Hawaii, West Coast
1942—FDR’s Internment Policy
110,000 citizens (many 2nd generation Americans) forced to leave CA, OR, WA, AZ for relocation centers
Private assets (homes, bank accounts, businesses) seized
Korematsu v. United States (1944)
Supreme Court ruled (6-3) that practice was legal citing “military necessity”