On the Homefront
Pre-War Report
Imagine it is late
December 1941 and the
U.S. is gearing up for
World War II. President
Roosevelt has asked you to outline the strengths and weaknesses of both the United States and
Axis Powers before the
U.S. officially starts fighting. In pairs, come up with a report for the
President.
Early Difficulties for the U.S.
The U.S. faced an uphill battle when they entered
World War II.
Germany & Japan already had firm control of their fronts & were well prepared for war.
Also, their economies were already centered around military production, where the U.S. economy was not.
Some Strengths
The Axis Powers had their resources spread over a large area.
The British and Soviets were not yet defeated and were still fighting.
Mobilizing for War
After Pearl Harbor, the U.S. had to switch from a peacetime to a wartime economy.
Factories that used to produce cars and other consumer goods now produced tanks, planes, ships, and guns.
This caused a massive economic boom which caused unemployment to drop from 14.6% in 1940 to
1.2% in 1944.
Government Expansion
In order to fight the war, the power of the federal government needed to increase.
It needed to organize industry and labor to maximize military output.
As a result, FDR created the War Production Board
(WPB) in 1942.
Also created was the Office of War Mobilization, which coordinated all government agencies involved in the war effort.
Directing the Economy
The war had an unwanted side effect – potential inflation
American workers were making more $ but there were less consumer goods to buy. This would cause inflation.
Government’s solution = sell war bonds & rationing
Raising an Army
In addition to organizing the economy to fight the war, the U.S. had to raise a military capable of defeating the Axis Powers.
In 1940, the National
Guard was called up to active duty and the
Selective Training and
Service Act was passed.
This was the first peacetime draft in U.S. history
Promoting the War
The government needed to make sure the war remained popular at home.
They relied on movie starts, radio stations, and other media outlets to advertise the war.
To control the flow of war news at home, the government created the
Office of War
Information.
Life During Wartime
Americans drastically cut their consumption during the war.
In addition, Americans began growing victory gardens to help make more food available for
Allied soldiers.
This was also done during World War I.
Fear on the West Coast
Americans on the west coast feared that the
Japanese could invade their shores.
As a result, cities began practicing nighttime blackouts.
What do you think the role of a
“typical” American woman was in
1940?
Rosie the Riveter
Women were encouraged to enter the workforce during the war to fill positions of men fighting overseas.
Women in the workforce increased by 6 million from 1940 to 1944.
The symbol and one of the most iconic images for patriotic female defense workers was
“Rosie the Riveter”
Discrimination During the War
Despite the U.S. coming together for the war effort, racial discrimination was still widespread.
African Americans joined the military; however, they served in segregated units or were denied combat.
Exception: the Tuskegee
Airmen
At home, many factories would not hire African
Americans.
As a result, FDR created the
Fair Employment Practices
Committee (FEPC) to ensure companies considered all qualified applicants, regardless of race, for job openings.
More Discrimination
Mexican Americans also experienced discrimination during the war.
In Los Angeles, many young Mexican Americans adopted the fad of wearing zoot suits.
U.S. sailors in the city began beating these youths and eventually had to be stopped by the government.
This became known as the zoot-suit riots.
What are the values and principles that represent the United States of
America? In pairs, come up with a list.
Japanese American Relocation
In February 1942, over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry living in the United States were forced into detention camps.
About 2/3 of these detainees were American citizens.
This process became known as internment, or the forced relocation and imprisonment of Japanese Americans living on the Pacific Coast.
Hawaii had a very large Japanese population and thus was placed under martial law for the duration of the war.
The U.S. Supreme Court actually upheld internment in
1944 and Japanese Americans remained imprisoned until
1945
Government Internment Camp
Video
First Hand Account of Internment
Camps
