USH2 Unit 5: America and the World

Lesson 5.3 part 5

Activate What does the term

“home front” imply?

World War II Home Front

1941-1945

Essential Questions What had to be done at the “home front” in

order to win the war?

An end to neutralityPearl Harbor brought an abrupt end to American isolationism in

December 1941FDR had already been readying the nation for war

Many US industries already producing war goodsFDR encouraged an “arsenal for democracy”

1940 FDR had increased size of the navyCongress passes War Powers Act

Gave FDR unprecedented control over the nationFDR creates:

War production Board (WPB)National War Labor Board (NWLB)Office of Price Administration (OPA)Office of War Mobilization (OWM)

Late 1942 1/3 economy committed to war production

Economic recoveryUS becomes the world’s largest manufacture of

armaments300,000 planes2.6 million machine guns6 million tons of bombs91,000 cargo/war ships

WWII will lead the US out of the Great DepressionUS government spends 250 million a day (320 billion)17 million jobs createdCorporate profits up 70%Real industrial wages up 50%

Closing gap between rich and poorUnprecedented prosperity for most Americans

Public sacrificeShortages of goods created inflation

Rationing of goods commonVoluntary & Gov. supervised

Increased wages lead to a high percentage of savings

FDR’s Revenue Act raised taxes for most AmericansPropaganda tied sacrifice directly to the war effort

Pushed voluntary conservation measuresEncouraged enlistmentPromoted bond sales

To manage propaganda, FDR creates Office of War Information (OWI)Emphasized a good vs evil strugglePromoted total destruction of the enemyVillainized the enemy (particularly the Japanese)

AP1 sentence

Changing roles of womenWorking women were a social stigma during the Great

Depression (took jobs from men)Federal government urged women into war production

Allowed men to serve in the militaryMore than 1/3 of labor forceMany women held nontraditional jobs breaking gender stereotypes

Gov. allowed gender discrimination in many industriesWomen made 65% of man’s salaryWomen filled a number of non-combat roles (over 300k enlist)

War had a lasting impact on impression of women in society

AP 1 sentence

Minority groups during the warAfrican Americans

Major push to fight discriminationNAACP membership grewCampaigned for anti-lynching laws and against

poll taxesCongress of Racial Equality (CORE) founded in

1942Were discriminated against in war industries

A. Philiip Randolph threatened a march on Washington

Led FDR to issue Executive Order 8802Creates the Fair Employment Practices

CommissionProtests led to minimal gains

Served in segregated military unitsMany units served with distinction

Violent race riots occurred across the country

AP 1 sentence

Minority groups during the warNative Americans

Many Native Americans attempt to leave reservations

Find discriminationLed to formation of National Congress of

American IndiansA few joined the military, (Navajo Code Talkers)

LatinosBracero program

Initially imported “foreign laborers” into the US

Many stayed behind rather than returnEncouraged future illegal immigration

Zoot suit riots (Summer 1943)All minority groups volunteered/commended for

military service in numbers disproportionate to pop

Minority groups during the warJapanese Americans

100k First and Second generation Japanese Americans were placed in internment camps

Rooted in anti Japanese propagandaJapanese were labeled a security risk on the

West Coast (Not in Hawaii)FDR issued Executive Order 9066

Forced to sell propertyHeld for duration of warFreed after pledging loyalty to the US

Supreme Court validated FDR’s authority Korematsu v. US

Limited number served in military (442nd)

AP 1 sentence

Activity The Century:

Homefront

Learning log Summarize what you

learned today about the sacrifices made at home in order to win the war. 5-7 sentences.