Exploring American HistoryExploring American HistoryUnit VIII- Boom Times and Unit VIII- Boom Times and

ChallengesChallenges

Chapter 26 – Section 2Chapter 26 – Section 2

The HomefrontThe Homefront

The Home FrontThe Home FrontThe Big Idea

American involvement in World War II helped the U.S. economy and changed the lives of many Americans.

Main Ideas

• Businesses, soldiers, and citizens worked to prepare the United States for war.

• The war brought new opportunities for many women and minorities.

• Japanese Americans faced internment during the war.

Main Idea 1:Main Idea 1:Businesses, soldiers, and citizens Businesses, soldiers, and citizens

worked to prepare for war.worked to prepare for war. Factories ran 24 hoursFactories ran 24 hours a day.

Agricultural production increasedAgricultural production increased.

Effort of mobilizing for war brought end to the Great Depressionend to the Great Depression

Selective Training and Service Act of 1940Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 was nation’s first peacetime draft.

More than 16 million Americans served during war.

War Production BoardWar Production Board created by government to oversee conversion of factories to war production

Increased taxestaxes

Sold war bondswar bonds

Collected scrap metalCollected scrap metal to be used in war factories

Learned to use lessLearned to use less in order to supply overseas troopsCivilians

Government

Soldiers

Businesses

New Roles for Federal New Roles for Federal Government Government

The Office of Price AdministrationOffice of Price Administration placed limits on the prices businesses could charge for products and materials.

The War Production BoardWar Production Board made sure the military got the products and resources it needed.

The WPB placed limits on clothing manufacturers. The WPB placed restrictions on clothing. For

examples, jackets were only allowed to be a certain length.

Government spending during the war roseGovernment spending during the war rose sharply. Most of the money went to the armed forces.

The government increased income taxincreased income tax rates to help pay for the war. Millions paid income taxes for the very first time.

Office of Price AdministrationOffice of Price Administration The functions of the The functions of the

OPA- (established to OPA- (established to prevent wartime prevent wartime inflation) inflation)

stabilize pricesstabilize prices (price (price controls) and controls) and rentsrents after after the outbreak of World War the outbreak of World War II. II.

place place ceilings on all pricesceilings on all prices except agricultural except agricultural commoditiescommodities

ration scarce suppliesration scarce supplies of of other items, including other items, including tires, automobiles, shoes, tires, automobiles, shoes, nylon, sugar, gasoline, nylon, sugar, gasoline, fuel oil, coffee, meats and fuel oil, coffee, meats and processed foods. At the processed foods. At the peak, almost 90% of retail peak, almost 90% of retail food prices were frozen. food prices were frozen.

It could also authorize It could also authorize subsidies for production of subsidies for production of some of those some of those commodities. commodities.

War Production BoardWar Production Board To ensure that the To ensure that the armed armed

forces and war industries forces and war industries received the resourcesreceived the resources for their ever-growing for their ever-growing needs.needs.

Decided which Decided which companiescompanies would convert would convert from peacetime to from peacetime to wartime production and wartime production and allocated raw materials allocated raw materials to key industries.to key industries.

Organized Organized nationwide nationwide drives to collect scrapdrives to collect scrap iron, tin cans, paper, iron, tin cans, paper, rags, and cooking fat for rags, and cooking fat for recycling into war goods.recycling into war goods.

Sacrifice and Struggle for Sacrifice and Struggle for Americans at HomeAmericans at Home

Americans bought millions of dollars worth of war millions of dollars worth of war bonds.bonds.

Over half of the population did their civic duty and bought war bonds.

ConservingFood

and otherGoods

Americans planted victory gardensvictory gardens.

The United States began rationing food itemsrationing food items such as coffee, butter, sugar, and meat.

Metal, glass, rubber, and gasoline were scarce goodsscarce goods.

Americans held scrap drivesscrap drives to collect waste materials that might be used in the war effort.

Investing in

Victory

Families dealt with the absence of loved ones by displaying a flag with a blue starflag with a blue star.

Americans read news accounts of the war with great interest (Ernie Pyle – newspaper journalist).Ernie Pyle – newspaper journalist).

Paying thePersonal

Price

Victory Victory GardensGardens

Victory gardensVictory gardens, also called war , also called war gardens or food gardens for gardens or food gardens for defense, defense, were vegetable, fruit were vegetable, fruit and herb gardensand herb gardens planted at planted at private residences in the United private residences in the United States, Canada, and United States, Canada, and United Kingdom during World War I and Kingdom during World War I and World War II to reduce the World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war supply brought on by the war effort. effort.

In addition to In addition to indirectly aiding indirectly aiding the war effortthe war effort these gardens these gardens were also considered a civil were also considered a civil "morale booster""morale booster" — in that — in that gardeners could feel empowered gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown.rewarded by the produce grown.

Scrap DrivesScrap Drives Recent historical studies indicate that the scrap Recent historical studies indicate that the scrap

drives were more important as drives were more important as morale boostersmorale boosters than in providing essential products for the war than in providing essential products for the war effort. effort.

But, the general public did get caught up in the But, the general public did get caught up in the patriotic enthusiasm -- some saved patriotic enthusiasm -- some saved tin foiltin foil from from gum wrappers, making a tin foil ball until it gum wrappers, making a tin foil ball until it reached a size large enough to be accepted by the reached a size large enough to be accepted by the collection site. collection site.

Scrap paperScrap paper was more easily collected and was was more easily collected and was used to package armaments. used to package armaments.

GreaseGrease was saved and recycled to make was saved and recycled to make ammunition. ammunition.

Salvaged kitchen fatSalvaged kitchen fat was used to produce glycerin, was used to produce glycerin, an ingredient in drugs and explosives. an ingredient in drugs and explosives.

Although the Although the rubber recyclingrubber recycling industry did industry did produce a fair amount of material throughout the produce a fair amount of material throughout the war, the rubber scrap drive didn't significantly war, the rubber scrap drive didn't significantly boost its output. The real solution to the rubber boost its output. The real solution to the rubber shortage was development of shortage was development of synthetic rubbersynthetic rubber and and conservation.conservation.

Gas rationingGas rationing was primarily meant to save tires, was primarily meant to save tires, not gas. not gas.

Recycling of steel and ironRecycling of steel and iron unquestionably helped. unquestionably helped. One campaign netted five million tons of steel in One campaign netted five million tons of steel in just three weeks, and scrap-metal drives continued just three weeks, and scrap-metal drives continued for most of the war. But could go too farfor most of the war. But could go too far..

Financing the War (01:34) Financing the War (01:34)

War BondsWar Bonds War Bonds provided a crucial source of War Bonds provided a crucial source of

revenue for the war effort. By revenue for the war effort. By sponsoring sponsoring public stuntspublic stunts such as such as celebrity auctions, the federal celebrity auctions, the federal government used War Bonds to sell the government used War Bonds to sell the war to the American public instead of war to the American public instead of relying on American involvement in the relying on American involvement in the war to sell bonds. war to sell bonds.

U.S. government to market U.S. government to market Series E Series E bonds as "war bonds", "war loans", bonds as "war bonds", "war loans", "victory bonds", and by other "victory bonds", and by other names meant to appeal to a sense names meant to appeal to a sense of patriotism.of patriotism.

By the time war-bond sales ended in By the time war-bond sales ended in 1946, 85 million Americans had 1946, 85 million Americans had purchased more than purchased more than $185 billion $185 billion worthworth of the securities, often through of the securities, often through automatic deductions from their automatic deductions from their paychecks paychecks

TaxesTaxes

Beginning in 1940, the government Beginning in 1940, the government extended the income tax to extended the income tax to virtually all virtually all AmericansAmericans and began collecting the tax via and began collecting the tax via the now-familiar method of continuous the now-familiar method of continuous withholdingwithholdings from paychecks (rather than s from paychecks (rather than lump-sum payments after the fact). The lump-sum payments after the fact). The number of Americans required to pay number of Americans required to pay federal taxes rose from 4 million in 1939 to federal taxes rose from 4 million in 1939 to 43 million in 1945.43 million in 1945.

All told, taxes provided about All told, taxes provided about $136.8 $136.8 billionbillion of the war's total cost of $304 billion of the war's total cost of $304 billion

Cinema Stars Aid America's War Bond Drive (01:22)Cinema Stars Aid America's War Bond Drive (01:22)

Service Star BannerService Star Banner Display of the Display of the Service Star Service Star

BannerBanner first came about during first came about during World War I. During WWI and World War I. During WWI and WWII most flags were hand made WWII most flags were hand made by mothers across the nation. by mothers across the nation. One of the most famous flags One of the most famous flags was that of the five Sullivan was that of the five Sullivan brothers who all perished on the brothers who all perished on the U.S.S. Juneau.U.S.S. Juneau.

Each blue star on the flag Each blue star on the flag represents a service member represents a service member in active duty. A gold star is in active duty. A gold star is displayed if a service displayed if a service member is killed in action or member is killed in action or dies in service.dies in service. If several stars If several stars are displayed in one family the are displayed in one family the gold star takes the honor of gold star takes the honor of being placed at the top.being placed at the top.

Preparing for WarPreparing for War

Recall- Recall- What law required What law required men to register for the draft?men to register for the draft?

PredictPredict – How might limiting – How might limiting the use of rubber help in the the use of rubber help in the war effort?war effort?

Women in Workforce

• New opportunitiesNew opportunities when war broke out

• Because so many men were sent to war, the government urged women to fill their places in the workplace.

• Women worked in Women worked in factoriesfactories at jobs traditionally held only by men.

Main Idea 2:Main Idea 2:The war brought new opportunities for The war brought new opportunities for

many women and minorities.many women and minorities.Women in Military

• About 300,000 women 300,000 women served in the armed served in the armed forcesforces in non-combat positions.

• Women’s Auxiliary Army Women’s Auxiliary Army CorpsCorps

• Women’s Airforce Women’s Airforce ServiceService

• Army and navy nurses Army and navy nurses served in combat areas.served in combat areas.

Women and WWII- 3:56Women and WWII- 3:56

African Americans in World African Americans in World War IIWar II

African American labor leader A. Philip RandolphA. Philip Randolph fought for fair treatment of African Americans in workplace.

Roosevelt issued an order prohibiting racial discriminationRoosevelt issued an order prohibiting racial discrimination in the government and companies producing war goods.

About 1 million African Americans served in World War II1 million African Americans served in World War II, mostly in segregated units.

The Tuskegee AirmenTuskegee Airmen were African American pilots. Led by Benjamin O. Davis, who later became the first African

American general in the U.S. Air Force

Flew thousands of successful combat missions

Military

Civilians

Mexican Americans in World War IIMexican Americans in World War II

About 300,000 served in the military

Many found wartime jobs on West Coast and in Midwest.

Government brought in farm workers from Mexico, called bracerosbraceros.

To make up for shortage of farm workers

About 200,000 Mexicans worked in this program.

Mexican American youth culture grew. Blended different music styles and clothing styles

Some wore zoot suitszoot suits– fancy, loose-fitting outfits with oversized hats.

Many faced discrimination. June 1943– in Los Angeles zoot-suit riotszoot-suit riots, sailors attacked

Mexican Americans wearing zoot suits.

Zoot Suit Riots - 1943Zoot Suit Riots - 1943 A zoot suit was a popular outfit with A zoot suit was a popular outfit with

young African American and Mexican young African American and Mexican American men in the 1940s. Most zoot American men in the 1940s. Most zoot suits sported extra-wide shoulders, knee-suits sported extra-wide shoulders, knee-length coats, and cuffed baggy pants, length coats, and cuffed baggy pants, sometimes topped with a porkpie hat. sometimes topped with a porkpie hat.

After a fight broke out in central Los After a fight broke out in central Los Angeles between a group of zoot-suited Angeles between a group of zoot-suited teenagers and sailors on leave, some teenagers and sailors on leave, some sailors began roaming the streets seeking sailors began roaming the streets seeking revenge. What started out as a brawl revenge. What started out as a brawl quickly turned into an invasion, as gangs quickly turned into an invasion, as gangs of servicemen took over sections of the of servicemen took over sections of the city, beating any Mexican American men city, beating any Mexican American men and boys they could find. and boys they could find.

The mobs stopped traffic, searched The mobs stopped traffic, searched streetcars, and even pulled their victims streetcars, and even pulled their victims out of movie theaters. After five days of out of movie theaters. After five days of bloodshed bloodshed

Wartime OpportunitiesWartime Opportunities

Recall- Recall- Why did factories Why did factories need more workers?need more workers?

ContrastContrast – What is the – What is the difference between the difference between the opportunities created for opportunities created for women and minorities in the women and minorities in the two world wars?two world wars?

Wartime OpportunitiesWartime Opportunities

Recall- Recall- What unfair treatment What unfair treatment did Randolph protest?did Randolph protest?

RateRate – Do you think – Do you think Roosevelt’s order went far Roosevelt’s order went far enough in prohibiting racial enough in prohibiting racial discrimination?discrimination?

Wartime OpportunitiesWartime Opportunities

Explain- Explain- What were the What were the advantages promise workers advantages promise workers in the bracero program?in the bracero program?

Draw ConclusionsDraw Conclusions – In what – In what ways did people of Mexican ways did people of Mexican heritage contribute to the war heritage contribute to the war effort?effort?

Main Idea 3:Main Idea 3:Japanese Americans faced internment Japanese Americans faced internment

during the war.during the war. After Pearl Harbor, some Americans began to look at

Japanese Americans with fear and suspicion.

Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. Allowed government to begin process of internmentinternment, or

forced relocation and imprisonment, of Japanese Americans

115,000 Japanese Americans115,000 Japanese Americans evacuated from homes and held in isolated internment camps.

Government initially banned Japanese Americans from serving in military.

Policy reversed in 1943.

33,000 U.S.-born citizens of Japanese descent, or Nisei, served in World War II.

Japanese American Japanese American InternmentInternment

Executive Order 9066Executive Order 9066 After Pearl Harbor, military After Pearl Harbor, military

officials began to investigate the officials began to investigate the Japanese American community Japanese American community for signs of spying or other illegal for signs of spying or other illegal activity.activity.

It was recommended that all It was recommended that all people of Japanese background people of Japanese background be removed from the West Coast.be removed from the West Coast.

Order 9066 established Order 9066 established military military zoneszones and could force people to and could force people to leave these zones.leave these zones.

Japanese Americans in California, Japanese Americans in California, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona Washington, Oregon, and Arizona were forced into were forced into internment internment camps.camps.

Many lost their homes and Many lost their homes and businessesbusinesses..

Japanese American LoyaltyJapanese American Loyalty While interned, Japanese While interned, Japanese

Americans were forced to answer Americans were forced to answer questions about their loyalty to questions about their loyalty to the United States.the United States.

German and Italian Americans German and Italian Americans also faced restrictions.also faced restrictions.

Many young people from the Many young people from the camps joined the armed forces to camps joined the armed forces to prove their loyalty.prove their loyalty.

Not all Japanese Americans Not all Japanese Americans accepted their internment accepted their internment peacefully.peacefully.

Some mounted legal challenges Some mounted legal challenges such as such as Korematsu Korematsu v.v. United United States.States.

Nisei: Japanese-Americans During Wartime (01:05)Nisei: Japanese-Americans During Wartime (01:05)

Executive Order 9066: Japanese Internment Camps Executive Order 9066: Japanese Internment Camps

(03:46)(03:46)

Korematsu Korematsu v.v. United States United States (1944)(1944)

The Supreme Court tried to find the right balance between the rights of Japanese Americans and wartime needs.

Fred Korematsu refused the executive orderFred Korematsu refused the executive order that relocated 110,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps.

Korematsu was born in Oakland, California, and was an American citizen.

He was arrested and then appealed his case to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled against Korematsu stating The Supreme Court ruled against Korematsu stating that the relocation order was justified as a that the relocation order was justified as a temporary wartime measure.temporary wartime measure. He continued to work for civil rights and had his

conviction overturned in 1983.

Japanese American Japanese American InternmentInternment

Recall- Recall- What did Japanese Americans What did Japanese Americans lose when they were interned?lose when they were interned?

ExplainExplain – Why was losing everything – Why was losing everything and starting over especially difficult in and starting over especially difficult in the early 1940’s?the early 1940’s?

EvaluateEvaluate – What do you think about – What do you think about the service of the all-Nisei combat the service of the all-Nisei combat team?team?