THE WAR AT HOME

Guided Reading Activity Answers

15 MILLION AMERICANS SERVED IN WORLD WAR II.

THE ROLE OF WOMENThe role of women in the military was much more limited then than now, yet hundreds of thousands of women served their country. Often, they performed secretarial or nursing work; however, some Women’s Army Corps members flew non-combat missions and even trained men how to fly.

ROSIE “THE RIVETER”

Women held many non-traditional jobs during World War II: 1. Welding 2. Blast Furnaces3. Police Officers4. Bus Drivers5. Gas Station Attendants6. Shipyard Workers

THE ROLE OF THE WAR PRODUCTION BOARD

The War Production Board was set up to help the transition to a “War Economy” – one designed to produce war materials. They set goals for production and encouraged companies to change their methods to facilitate production – opening opportunities for women and minority candidates in the war materials industries. Industrial production doubled in America almost immediately, and unemployment dropped to zero – ending the Great Depression.

VICTORY GARDENS AND WAR BONDSAs in World War I, during World War II, Americans planted VICTORY GARDENS and purchased WAR BONDS to support the war effort.

RATIONING

RATIONING – THE ACT OF SETTING LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF SCARCE GOODS WHICH PEOPLE CAN BUY.

During World War II, the United States sought to ration goods which were of significance to soldiers on the front lines.

RATIONED GOODS, WORLD WAR II

COFFEE SUGAR

RATIONED GOODS, WORLD WAR II

MEAT SHOES

RATIONED GOODS, WORLD WAR II

GASOLINE TIRES

300,000 JAPANESE-AMERICANS LIVED IN THE UNITED STATES DURING WORLD WAR II

EXECUTIVE ORDER #9066

JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMPS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1942 - 1945

Japanese-Americans, many of whom had lived in the United States for generations, were forced to sell all of their property at reduced prices and imprisoned in remote camps scattered across the United States during the war. These camps were not concentration camps or death camps. They were generally very clean, adequately supplied, and orderly – although Spartan. There was even recreation – athletic fields, and entertainment. The Japanese internment camps were supervised by armed guards, but usually were organized and run by democratically elected councils of the Japanese themselves. The degradation and humiliation of the experience were excruciating for many Japanese-Americans, nevertheless. No such camps were set up for German-Americans or Italian-Americans – although they constituted a larger, and as it turned out, more palpable threat.

OVER 17,000 JAPANESE AMERICANS SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN WW II

Japanese Soldiers generally fought in Europe during World War II. They participated in campaigns in North Africa, Italy, and France – less frequently in the Pacific Theatre, where the Japanese were being engaged. They were called upon as translators from time to time if they spoke Japanese. The loyal service of these soldiers further demonstrated the loyalty of Japanese-Americans in general.

ONLY A HANDFUL OF GERMAN OR ITALIAN AMERICANS WERE DETAINED BY THE US GOVERNMENT, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THAT RACISM MOTIVATED THE INTERMENT OF THE JAPANESE TO A LARGE EXTENT.

During the years leading up to World War II, many prominent Americans offered their support to Nazi Germany. There was widespread admiration for Hitler, despite his anti-Semitic stances and obvious contempt for international law. Many Americans shared his anti-Semitism, like Henry Ford. Others wanted to avoid war at all costs, even if it meant compromising some American values. Charles Lindbergh, for example, was a member of the America First Committee, which sought to stay out of the war in Europe no matter what. Thousands of ordinary Americans joined the German-American Bund – a friendship league which encouraged cultural exchange and good relations with the Nazis.

FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES COMMISSIONThe purpose of the FEPC was to insure that African-American workers and contractors would have equal access to government jobs and government military contracts. Anti-discrimination laws were enforced by the agency.

TWO MILLION AFRICAN-AMERICANS WORKED IN WAR MUNITIONS PLANTS DURING WW II.

Over two million African-American workers took advantage of the opportunity to work for their country. Although many conflicts would emerge during the course of the war, African-Americans made a major positive contribution to the war effort.