The Home Front
Section 2
Supporting the War Effort
• The War Production Board
coordinated the production
of military equipment and
supplies
• The US was producing 60%
of all Allied ammunition
• Job market was wide open
• Effectively ended the Great
Depression
• America’s Gross National
Product rose to new heights
Supporting the War Effort
• Citizens were forced to
ration food and supplies
• Rationed goods included:
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Rubber
Gasoline
Fuel Oil & Kerosene
Shoes
Sugar
Coffee
Meats, canned fish
Cheese, canned milk
Supporting the War Effort
To help pay for the
expensive war, citizens
were encouraged to buy
war bonds.
Supporting the War Effort
• The war created new jobs for
minorities
• Influenced many African
Americans to relocate to the
West Coast or North
• Inflamed racial tensions
• A. Phillip Randolph was a
labor leader that achieved
the passing of Executive
Order 8802
• Outlawed discrimination in
defense industries working for
the federal government
Supporting the War Effort
• The US government
requested the braceros’
help because the nation
faced a shortage of farm
workers during the war
years
• Mexican Americans faced
prejudice and violence in
the south west
• LA riots are known as the
Zoot Suit riots
Supporting the War Effort
• Minorities did not just
assist the war at home –
many joined the armed
forces
• Due to racial prejudice,
they served in segregated
units
• One unit was the Tuskegee
Airmen – served in North
Africa and Europe
Supporting the War Effort
• With so many men fighting
overseas, the demand for
female workers rose sharply.
• Women worked in munitions
factories, shipyards, and
offices
• “Rosie the Riveter”
• Some women even served in
the armed forces
• Mechanics, drivers, clerks,
nurses, and other noncombat
positions
The Internment of JapaneseAmericans
• President Roosevelt signed
Executive Order 9066
• Allowed for the removal of
Japanese and JapaneseAmericans from the Pacific
Coast
• Forced to sell their homes
and possessions, leave their
jobs, and move to prison-like
camps
• About 2/3 of the interned
were born in America
• Nisei