World War II: The Home Front

Essential Questions
How did America initially respond to the events leading to WWII?

How did the war change the American home front, both culturally and socially?
How did the war transform the U.S. economy both immediately and in the long term? How did the war affect minority groups during the period? What effect did the war have on American industry? How did the war unify America in a common purpose?

The Arsenal of Democracy

America officially neutral as European war began FDR increased military production and skirted Neutrality Acts after Nazi victories FDR ran for third term Lend-Lease Act passed U.S. embargoed oil and scrap-iron sales to Japan

The Election of 1940

FDR won unprecedented third term Defeated Willkie Both candidates considered internationalists

In this map of electoral results, FDR is indicated in green, Willkie in red

The America First Committee

Formed in 1940 An estimated 800,000 members at its height Most prominent member was Charles Lindbergh Advocated building up U.S. defenses and staying out of Europes problems Dissolved four days after Pearl Harbor

Charles Lindbergh speaking at an America First rally

FDRs Four Freedoms

FDRs 1941 State of the Union address Early in his third term Equated aid to Britain with protecting universal freedoms

An excerpt from the speech

From the Four Freedoms Speech

In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and expressioneverywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his way everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from wantwhich, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitantseverywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fearwhich, translated into world terms, means a worldwide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighboranywhere in the world.

Selective Service Act of 1940

First peacetime draft in U.S. All men aged 2135 required to register; later 1865 Required men picked for duty to serve 12 months Service in the U.S. or its possessions

FDR signs the Selective Service Act into law

Discussion Questions
1. What steps did FDR take toward making the U.S. the Arsenal of Democracy? 2. What was the America First Committee? Who were some of its more famous members? Why did it disband? 3. How did FDR explain the need to provide aid to Britain in his Four Freedoms speech? Why do you think that FDR took this approach?

Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941 Carrier-based Japanese planes bombed naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii More than 2400 Americans killed U.S. Pacific fleet temporarily crippled

The USS Arizona burns during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor: The Nature of the Attack

Japanese intended to knock out U.S. military power Aircraft carriers followed less detectable northern route U.S. officials knew of a coming attack, but not at Pearl Harbor

Japanese aerial view of Pearl Harbor under attack

FDRs War Message

Delivered to Congress on December 8, 1941 Only one member of Congress voted against declaring war Germany declared war on the U.S. a few days later
FDR signs the declaration of war with Japan

FDRs War Message: A Significant Change

FDR changed the first line, which included the phrase, a date which will live in world history FDRs reading copy found after 43 years

FDRs annotated draft copy of his speech

German Agents in the U.S.

Four German agents landed at Amagansett, NY (June 1942) Four others near Jacksonville, FL Both groups had maps, explosives, cash Planned to sabotage factories, bridges, other installations FBI arrested both groups

Trial of captured German saboteurs, July 1942

U-Boats in the Western Atlantic

Operation Paukenschlag East Coast essentially undefended U-boats sank over 500 ships in the U.S. defense zone, JulyDecember 1942 U.S. 10th Fleet fought against U-boats in western Atlantic Sank 65 U-boats in six months

A German U-boat

Japanese Balloon Bombs

Carried anti-personnel and incendiary bombs Floated to the West Coast Killed six picnickers in Oregon in 1945

A balloon bomb

Civil Defense
Fears of attack by Axis Powers on U.S. mainland Office of Civilian Defense Civil Air Patrol and Civil Defense Corps Performed various protective services
The WWII-era Civil Defense logo

The War Powers Act

Gave the president sweeping powers to conduct the war President allowed to initiate and terminate war contracts Government agencies set for wartime priorities Foreign assets also frozen Censorship allowed, though media generally censored themselves

Discussion Questions
1. What were the immediate effects on the U.S. of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor? 2. What were some ways in which the Germans and Japanese tried to directly attack the U.S.? 3. What did the War Powers Act give FDR the authority to do in conducting the war?

New Recruits
Over 60,000 enlisted immediately after Pearl Harbor Military training facilities overwhelmed Not enough barracks or materiel Recruits processed, then sent to basic training Recruits broke down cultural and class barriers

Recruits arriving at the naval training center in San Diego

Basic Training
Designed to build strength and stamina Obstacle courses, forced marches, marksmanship Instilled a strong sense of discipline
Army recruits practice calisthenics at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, in 1942

Marshall and Mobilization

Army underfunded and underdeveloped in late 1930s Marshall became Army Chief of Staff Convinced FDR and Congress to provide increased manpower and funding

General George C. Marshall

Women in the War Effort

Took over many jobs for servicemen, most notably in heavy industry Some joined the military Altered family life, brought several drawbacks

A poster urging women to take manufacturing jobs to help the war effort

The Womens Army Corps

Marshall noted British success in using women for noncombat duties Congress created Womens Auxiliary Army Corps in 1942 WAAC later renamed Womens Army Corps

WAC Director Col. Oveta Culp Hobby (right) confers with WAC members at Mitchell Field, NY

WAVEs
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service Navy program similar to WACs Did not serve overseas Nurses, clerical work, communications jobs

A WAVES recruitment poster explaining the pay scale for members

WASPs
Womens Airforce Service Pilots Aviators Cochran and Love proposed idea separately Performed noncombat flight duties Freed male pilots for combat missions

Four WASPs receive final instructions as they chart a cross-country course

Women in the Workforce

Women were encouraged to work in defense plants Others grew Victory Gardens and helped with recycling for the war effort Generally earned less than male workers

Factory workers polish Plexiglas nose cones for A-20 attack bombers

Rosie the Riveter

A symbol of working women during the war Based on factory worker Rose Will Monroe Miller and Rockwell both created iconic Rosie images
This poster for the Westinghouse Corporation is frequently associated with Rosie the Riveter

Discussion Questions
1. What role did General George C. Marshall play in mobilizing the armed forces early in the war? 2. How did women contribute to the U.S. war effort?

Office of War Information

Established in 1942 Coordinated release of war news Promoted patriotism Tried to recruit women into factory work Propaganda program abroad The Voice of America

Patch worn by Office or War Information personnel

Wartime Propaganda Posters

Government propagandists sometimes used fear and racial slurs in order to convey their message

Donald Duck in Nutziland

Produced by Disney in 1943 Donald Duck dreams he works on a German munitions line Bandleader Spike Jones recorded Der Fuehrers Face Name of cartoon later changed to reflect song title
Chorus to Der Fuehrer s Face: When der fuehrer says we is de master race We heil heil right in der fueher's face Not to love der fuehrer is a great disgrace So we heil heil right in der fuehrer's face

1940s Movies
Feature films included war themes Nazis and Japanese portrayed as buffoons or villains Patriotism also a common theme Characters such as Sherlock Holmes and Tarzan battled Nazis Documentaries by Capra and Wyler also popular

A scene depicting the Nazi propaganda machine, from one of Frank Capras Why We Fight films

Mobilization of Industry
Dr. Win the War replaced Dr. New Deal Many civilian industries converted to war production Manpower needed for defense plants Scarce goods rationed and price controls established Disputes between management and labor to resolve

Workers assembling an aircraft

A Production Miracle
Axis Powers underestimated American production Many factories and businesses converted to war production New industries emerged Output significantly increased

Liberty Ships
Usually cargo ships Developed by Henry Kaiser Featured welded hulls Many sections prefabricated By 1943, three entered service daily

The SS Carlos Carrillo, a Liberty ship later made into a troop carrier

Fords Willow Run Facility

Built B-24 Liberator bombers Worlds largest factory under one roof Produced 14 aircraft per day in August 1944

Workers at the Willow Run facility assemble B-24 bombers, 1943

Discussion Questions
1. What was the purpose of the Office of War Information? How did it accomplish this?
2. How did the film industry contribute to the war effort in the 1940s? What were some significant productions? 3. What techniques did Henry Kaiser introduce to dramatically increase production of Liberty ships?

War Production Board

Ensured that the military had the resources it needed Directed industrial output Prohibited nonessential business activities Allocated raw materiel Organized scrap drives

A War Educational Bulletin produced by the War Production Board

Scrap Drives
Organized by the WPB Encouraged collection of waste and scrap goods for war use Materiel included iron, aluminum, paper Waste cooking fats for making glycerin

Results of a scrap rubber drive

Scrap Drives: Posters

The government used posters and publicity pictures of celebrities such as Rita Hayworth (right) to encourage citizens to recycle scrap items.

Office of War Mobilization

Created in 1943 by FDR Headed by James Byrnes Became dominant mobilization agency Byrnes worked well with labor and with the military

OWM head James F. Byrnes

The Truman Committee

Created to expose waste and fraud in the defense industry Truman personally inspected factories and military installations Saved taxpayers millions
Senator Harry S. Truman

War Manpower Commission

Headed by former IN governor Paul McNutt Balanced the militarys recruiting needs with requirements of agriculture and industry Gave deferments to certain groups Oversaw the draft until 1943

WMC head Paul McNutt

Discussion Questions
1. What were the functions of the War Production Board? 2. What was the Truman Committee? How did its work contribute to the war effort? 3. What made scrap drives so necessary to the war effort? What types of materiel did they collect?

Financing the War

U.S. spent more than $321 billion (more than $3 trillion today) National debt increased dramatically More Americans required to pay income taxes War-bond sales raised needed revenue

War Bonds
Used to help finance the war More than $185 billion sold Bought by businesses, banks, and civilians Celebrities helped with bond drives High interest rates

An example of a $100 war bond

War Bonds: Posters

Posters such as these sought to convince Americans that they should help the war effort and stop the enemy by buying war bonds

Office of Price Administration

Designed to limit wartime inflation Established ceiling prices for many goods Rationed scarce goods and many consumer staples Rationing stopped at end of war Dissolved in 1947

Rationing
Way to allocate scarce goods Included meat, butter, sugar, coffee, shoes Stamps and points system Gasoline rationing particularly complex Black market emerged

Children learning to tally points and ration stamps

Rationing: Books and Stamps

Each family received ration books (left) and stamps (above) for determining its monthly allotment.

Discussion Questions
1. About how much did WWII cost the U.S. government? How did the federal government raise revenue to pay for the war? 2. How did purchasing war bonds help the average citizen? How did they help the war effort? 3. How did the Office of Price Administration prevent wartime inflation? How did its system for rationing goods work?

Victory Gardens
Government urged citizens to grow fruits and vegetables Eased food shortages caused by rationing Nearly 20 million started gardens More than nine million tons of produces
A government poster promoting Victory Gardens

National Housing Agency

Housing construction ceased, except for defense purposes Relocation caused housing shortages in many cities NHA established in 1942 Combined and coordinated housing and loan programs

National War Labor Board

Arbitrated labor disputes during war Board comprised of representatives from management, labor, and government No-strike pledge Some wildcat strikes still occurred

Guardsmen carry Sewell Avery, president of Montgomery Ward, from his office for failing to comply with NWLR rulings

The Wars Economic Impact

Nominal GDP more than doubled Wages and salaries nearly tripled Federal civilian employment more than tripled Female employment up by a third Labor union membership grew by over 50 percent National debt ballooned by over 600 percent

Geographic Shifts in the Economy

South saw great prosperity Millions of jobs in textiles, chemicals, and aluminum Southern shipyards and aircraft plants grew West became economic powerhouse California especially benefited from federal expenditures

An Army sentry guards new B-17 F (Flying Fortress) bombers at the airfield of Boeing's Seattle plant

Discussion Questions
1. Why did the federal government encourage Americans to grow Victory Gardens? What impact did these have on the war effort? 2. What sorts of strategies did the government employ regarding housing issues? Regarding disputes between labor and management? 3. What effects did the war have on the U.S. economy from 1940 to 1945?

Japanese American Internment

FDR issued Executive Order 9066 Removed more than 110,000 Issei (Japanese nationals) and Nisei (Japanese Americans) from the West Coast About two-thirds were citizens

A map of relocation centers in the western U.S.

Prejudice Against Nisei

Long history of antiJapanese sentiment in California Falsely accused Nisei of helping plan Pearl Harbor No evidence of sabotage or espionage ever found

This propaganda poster displays typical American-held stereotypes of the Japanese

I Am an American
Some Nisei tried to demonstrate patriotism Interned regardless Most Japanese accepted internment Wanted to show their loyalty to the U.S.
Despite this Oakland, California, grocer s sign, he was interned and his business sold

Life in the Camps

Nisei forced to sell homes, businesses, property Lost an estimated $2 billion Poor conditions: Barbed-wire enclosures Barracks with cots and no plumbing Meager food budget Low temperatures

Manzanar
Located in California Best known of relocation camps Camp held nearly 12,000 internees Extremes in climate Closed in November 1945

Manzanar in the winter

Korematsu v. U.S. (1942)

Korematsu refused to obey the relocation order Appealed conviction on constitutional grounds Supreme Court ruled the order a valid use of presidential power in wartime Decision vacated in 1984, due to governmentwithheld evidence in the first trial

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team

Formed in 1943 Made up of Nisei Fought with distinction in Italy and France Most decorated combat unit in U.S. history

Members of the 442nd hiking through France, late 1944

Civil Liberties Act of 1988

Sponsored by Simpson and Mineta, a former internee Government formally apologized Paid $20,000 to each surviving internee 1992 act added enough money to cover all remaining internees Government apologized again

Norman Mineta

Discussion Questions
1. Why did the government feel it necessary to relocate both Issei and Nisei? What was the purpose of Executive Order 9066? 2. What kinds of stereotypes did white Americans tend to hold about Japanese Americans? 3. Do you think that the government was justified in interning Nisei, even though they were American citizens? Why or why not?

Internment of Other Groups

German Americans and nationals, and Italian Americans and nationals More than 10,000 Germans and 3000 Italians interned Camps similar to those for Nisei No evidence of espionage or treason

German American and Italian American internees at Ellis Island, 1943

African Americans and the War

The irony of fighting a racist regime in Europe while experiencing racism at home Blacks found limited employment in defense plants Race riots broke out in many cities African Americans looked for equality in the workplace and in the military

The Double V Campaign

Created in 1942 by the Pittsburgh Courier, a leading black newspaper Called for victory over our enemies at home and victory over our enemies on the battlefields abroad

The campaigns logo

Dorie Miller
A hero of the Pearl Harbor attack Not initially recommended for any commendation Later received Navy Cross Killed in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands
A poster featuring Miller

The Tuskegee Airmen

All-black combat unit formed in 1941 99th Fighter Squadron formed in AL Commanded by Davis Escorted bombers over central Europe Proved superior or equal to white pilots

Airmen Marcellus G. Smith and Roscoe C. Brown in Italy, 1945

Randolph and the Fair Employment Act

Influential labor leader Proposed a 1941 March on Washington to protest discrimination FDR convinced him to cancel march; enacted Fair Employment Act

A. Philip Randolph meets with first lady Eleanor Roosevelt

The Navajo Code Talkers

Used to transmit messages in the Pacific Theater Based on the Navajo language Navajo words frequently substituted for military terms Code never broken

Code Talkers Henry Bake and George Kirk send messages in the Pacific Theater, 1943

The Bracero Program

Established due to wartime labor shortage Experienced Mexican laborers brought in for CA farm work; expanded nationwide Braceros also worked for U.S. railroads Reported human rights abuses Lawsuits filed to collect savings withheld from braceros pay

A bracero

Zoot Suit Riots

Los Angeles, 1943 Conflicts between sailors on leave and young Mexican Americans, identifiable by their dress African Americans and Filipinos wearing zoot suits also targeted Military eventually placed LA off-limits to servicemen

A zoot suit

Discussion Questions
1. What groups other than Japanese Americans did the government relocate? Why? 2. How did the war impact African Americans? In what ways did African Americans prove themselves as capable of serving as other groups? 3. Why did the government bring in braceros to work in the U.S.? What industries did they work in?

Service Flags
Commonly displayed throughout U.S. A blue star indicated a relative on active duty A gold star meant that a relative had died while on active duty Blue Star (and Gold Star) Mothers clubs
A Service Flag with three stars

The Sullivan Brothers

From Waterloo, IA Enlisted in the Navy on the condition they would serve together Assigned to the USS Juneau All five killed at Guadalcanal in 1942

The Election of 1944

FDR practically assured a fourth term Truman selected as running mate Defeated NY governor Thomas Dewey

This map of electoral votes indicates Dewey in red and FDR in green

Roosevelt Dies
April 12, 1945 At his retreat in Warm Springs, GA Only a few weeks before the end of the war in Europe Widely mourned
FDRs funeral procession moves down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.

Truman Takes Office

Vice president for only 82 days Oversaw last months of the war Authorized use of the atomic bomb President during the early Cold War
Truman takes the oath of office shortly after FDRs death

V-E Day and V-J Day

Victory in Europe, May 67, 1945 Victory Over Japan, Sept. 2, 1945 Celebrations marked the end of the war Nation still had to deal with postwar issues

Tens of thousands crowd Times Square to celebrate the Japanese surrender, New York City

The GI Bill
Servicemens Readjustment Act of 1944 An attempt to thwart a social and economic crisis Stalled in Congress as House and Senate hammered out a compromise Bill provided for education and training, low-cost loans, unemployment benefits

Stamp commemorating the GI Bill

Discussion Questions
1. How did people on the home front show that they had family members who were in the service or were killed in action? 2. How did FDRs declining health affect both the election of 1944 and the end of the war? 3. How did the government try to help returning servicemen readjust to civilian life?