The United States at War
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Transcript of The United States at War
THE UNITED STATES AT WAR
FOCUS QUESTION:What would the United States have to do to prepare for this?
FOCUS QUESTION:What would the United States have to do to prepare for this?
PEARL HARBORJapanese attack brings U.S. into the warU.S. sets strategy in motion
• Initial outrage against Japan• Determined to defeat Germany first
THE HOME FRONTWorld War II was a Total War
• Entire American society was directed toward the war effort
• No one did not take part in the war effort
ECONOMYEconomic activity took on a wartime footing
• Massive military contracts sent production soaring• Lifted U.S. from the Depression
Directed by the War Production Board• Production of nonessential items were halted• Large-scale rationing of commodities• Some companies fought to have their products
listed as ’essential’The U.S. produced much of the war materiel used by the Allies
INFLATION CURBSOffice of Price Administration created to prevent runaway inflation
• Less consumer goods could equal higher prices• To keep morale up, prices capped
With full employment concern rose over higher wages
• War Labor Board set caps on wages• Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Act limited ability of
workers to strike
FINANCEWorld War II cost the U.S. an estimate
$341 billion • ($4.137 trillion in today’s figures)
How do you finance this?• Taxation• War Bonds (135 billion sold in total)
MORALENeed to keep up morale at homeSponsored numerous activities
• Victory Gardens• Meatless and Wheat-less days• Scrap Drives• Civil Defense Drills
SOCIETAL SHIFTSFull Employment and Military Demands opened new opportunities
• African-Americans brought into numerous industrial jobs
• Bracero program opened opportunities for Mexican-Americans
• Five million women entered the industrial workplace