america enters world war ii
TRANSCRIPT
UNITED STATES HISTORY
America Enters World War II
1. MOVE FROM NEUTRALITY TO INVOLVEMENT
2. THE WARTIME ECONOMY3. CHANGES IN AMERICA
Three Parts:
HOW THE US OVERCAME ITS RELUCTANCE TO INTERNATIONALISM
Part 1: From Neutrality to Involvement
US Isolationism
US was bitter after WW1: Bankers & businesses made
$, Americans lost their lives We DIDN’T make the world
safe for Democracy (look at the world in 1938!)
1930s: focus on the Depression
Series of Neutrality Acts: US could NOT trade with
any nation that was at war No loans to these nations
eitherAmerica First Committee
What Changed?
We needed to help our Allies, or we may have to fight the war (interventionists): Cash & Carry (didn’t work) Lend-Lease (this did work) Exports to Japan (oil, scrap
iron) cut off to stop them from expanding (didn’t work)
Peace time draft (1st in our history) to prepare us for war (didn’t work)
Military spending increased
Then…
Pearl Harbor
Part 2: Wartime Economy
THEN…
Federal Government Runs The Economy
Office of War Mobilization (oversaw the entire wartime economy and planned everything)
War Productions Board (made industry switch to wartime production)
Production Miracle: every worker had a job; USA supplied Allies with almost EVERYTHING
Arsenal of Democracy
Rationing
Americans were prevented from buying too much of scarce items
Some were for the war: gas, clothes, food
Some were because of shortages: rubber, silk
Prevented inflationBlack Market
resultedShopping With Ration
Books
People Volunteered
Victory GardensScrap DrivesCollected paper and waste fats
Bought war bonds
Civil Defense
Part 3: Wartime Changes
No Time to Discuss Social Changes
Women Allowed in armed forces Worked outside the home Rosie the Riveter
African-Americans Better job opportunities (Great Migration
picked up) Double V Campaign Allowed to FIGHT in the armed forces
(segregated units) Racial riots in north (worse one in
Detroit—over housing) Tuskegee Airmen
Mexican-Americans Bracero program (from Mexico to farms) Zoot Suit riots