Any bonds today?

American War Production

Rationing Production on the American Home Front in World War II

We shall make America…the Arsenal for Democracy!

FDR Speech, 1940

You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've

tried everything else.

Winston Churchill – Leader of Great Britain

The wartime demand for goods ended the Great Depression and unemployment fell.

War Production

• The US entered the War as production in Europe had come to a complete halt.

• Britain & Russia were being destroyed by saturation bombing,

• The rest of Europe was under Fascist control.

· The government controlled the economy as it did during World War I.

• It did this in four ways:

• Production of War goods

• Financing & Buying War Bonds

• Rationing and Conservation.

• Civil Defense

The War Production

Board helped factories to

produce war goods

The US now shifted to war materialsThe US provided everything its Army, Navy and Air Corps could use or need.

This poster says it all.

Liberty Ships

Ship building went from 200 to 40 days.

• The United States would build over 500 ships in less than two years to support the war in Europe.

Liberty Ships

Made at shipyards around the nation, Liberty Ships took equipment ammunition and supplies to America’s allies during the War.

• The military now paid companies to produce War materials.

• They gave incentives to those companies that produced goods under the production cost code.

• The greatest prize a company or a worker could get during the War was a sticker, flag, or banner called a “Production E”.

• This meant the company had run at 100% efficient .

Wartime Work Force

• As the depression ended, and production picked up average wages rose 50%, union membership rose, and prices leveled.

• Pay raises were given each year production was met.

Women now entered the workforce…

First seen on the cover of Saturday Evening Post, Rosie the Riveter, even had a song in her honor.The poster and the song showed how woman had moved into the workforce.

• Most women worked until the war ended and then went back to their homes and marriage.

• But the war proved they could handle anything, and money now became a working women’s best ally.

WWII

• The FBI even got the mob to stop strikes on the docks, and ships leaving New York.

• They also got them to spy on Mussolini back in Italy.

• Charles Lucky Luciano was allowed to go back to Italy after WWII for his help on the docks.

#4

#5

• The War production Board:

• A. Helped factories to produce war goods.

• B. Helped find raw materials.

• C. Helped find jobs for laborers.

• D. Helped factories keep workers from going on strike.

#6

• Unlike America in WWII what happened to production in Europe?

• A. It increased B. It slowed down • C. It came to a halt D. It Boomed

#7

• This banner displayed by an American business meant?• A. It supported the War. • B. It supported the Army and Navy.• C. It ran at 100% Efficiency.• D. It ran a non-labor business.

Financing the War

• The government went from spending 9 billion a year in 1939 to 95.2 billion a year in 1945.

• The government spent 321 billion dollars on the war.

Deficit Spending

• By postponing the paying off the war until after 1946, the US spending in the red helped pay for the war, field a well equipped Armed Forces, brought prosperity to workers, and end the Depression.

• It also boosted the national debt.

War Bonds

• America’s answer was the War Bond.

• Like Liberty Bonds in WWI, Americans bought 186 billion dollars worth of them.

War Bonds

• The National Debt also went from 43 billion in 1940 to 259 billion by 1945.

• Today its 8 Trillion.

• War is expensive!

Created from a real photo in WWII, the poster showing the Marines raising the flag over Mt. Surabachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima raised over 26 million dollars (the most ever in a bond drive) , because the four surviving Marines in the picture also went on tour to raise funds.

Look at what

your bonds

buy

#8

• In what year did America plan to pay off the war?

• A. 1950.

• B. 1946.

• C. 1980.

• D. Never.

#9

• By using deficit spending during the War, the US:

• A. Increased its national debt.

• B. Increased the homeless rate

• C. Increased the Depression loses.

• D. Increased its national labor relations force.

#10

• Why did this poster raise the most funds in a bond drive?

• A. It gave away a flag• B. The men in the picture

had all died• C. The remaining men in

the picture went on the drive.

• D. The men gave a flag to all fallen Marines.

#11

According to this poster, how much did a $25.00 War bond cost?

A. $10.00B. $18.75C.$20.00D.$ 50.00

#12

• According to the War Department how much of your pay should you spend on War Bonds?

• A. 5%• B 25%• C. 50%• D. 10%

Life on the Home FrontRationing & Conservation

Rationing

Shortages and Controls

• People became accustom to the terms “ for the duration”, meaning not until the war ended.

• No consumer goods were produced, only war material.

During the Second World War, you couldn't just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted, nor could you fill up your car with gasoline whenever you liked. All these things were rationed, which meant you were only allowed to buy a small amount (even if you could afford more).

The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply during the war, and rationing was the only way to make sure everyone got their fair share.

• Ration coins (introduced in 1944)

allowed  retailers to give change

back for food  bought with ration

stamps. 

•  In May of 1942, the U.S. Office of Price Administration (OPA) froze prices on practically all everyday goods, starting with sugar and coffee.

· Consumers faced a shortage of goods due to the war.

-

- The government rationed everything…-Gas and Oil Most people lived on three gallons a week.

• 1941 Ford Coupe• The last model made before the

War.

• No new cars were produced during the War

• By the end of 1942, half of U.S automobiles were issued an 'A' sticker which allowed 4 gallons of fuel per week.  That sticker was issued to owners whose use of their cars was nonessential

• The green 'B' sticker was for driving deemed essential to the war effort; industrial war workers, for example, could purchase eight gallons a week

•  'T' was for truckers, and the rare 'X' sticker went to members of Congress and other VIPs.  Truckers supplying the population with supplies had a T sticker for unlimited amounts of fuel. 

Since a gas ration sticker was affixed to a vehicle's glass windshield, the reverse side was visible to the occupants.  This offered the opportunity to give advice to the driver and passengers.Is this trip really necessary?  Share your car.   To save tires, drive under 35.

Daffy Duck gets in the act stopping Bugs because he is going faster than 40!

Woody Woodpecker is stopped from his craziness by rationing

They rationed meat, Meat ( 2 lbs per person per week)

groceries and can goods

• The Government rationed:

• Metal

• Rubber, silk & glass

• Gasoline ( 3 gallons a week)

• Sugar, salt & flour

• Cotton

•Then the Government rationed tobacco

•Three packs a week.

•The GI need them more than you do!

During WW II’s cigarette shortage,

Maurice’s Restaurant, at 175 W Madison, helped the cause by giving out

free smokes to patrons – but only take one!, 1945,

Chicago.

Rationing

• The store had a point system attached to certain items.

• Once you maxed out on your points you could not buy any more.

You are allowed to spend 48 Points a months on these goods.Present your ration card.AND DON”T ASK FOR MORE!

Rationing Sugar

Notice no Sugar Bowl on the table

Conservation

• The first nonfood item rationed was rubber.  • The Japanese had seized plantations in the

Dutch East Indies that produced 90% of America's raw rubber. 

• President Roosevelt called on citizens to help by contributing scrap rubber to be recycled, old tires, old rubber raincoats, garden hose, rubber shoes, bathing caps.

• Daylight Savings Time came back and the government also encouraged people to save, conserve and be patriotic.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Urges you to: See your County USDA War Board Meet your 1943 farm goals Keep tractors working Take good care of your machinery Conserve your trucks Turn in your scrap Buy War Bonds

You also serve -- you who stand behind the plow, pledged to feed the Soldier, the Worker, the Ally, and, with God's help, all the hungry victims of this war!  You also serve -- you who farm, you who pray and sacrifice.  You'll feed the World even if it means plowing by lantern light, and harvesting by hand -- even children's hands -- even if it means putting up the trucks and going back to covered wagons once again...

Sears Roebuck Catalog Ad

• They had Meatless Wednesday, rationed gas, rubber, steel, iron and grew Victory Gardens.

• Because of this the cost of living and wages rose.

• It also fought inflation and allowed more people to keep and save their money.

• But it also created a striving black market in America.

• The FBI would soon come after racketeers

• The government now sent out the FBI to arrest people who bought, purchased, or worked for a Black Market group

• This poster says it all.

• No new dresses, Nylon stockings, new cars, new anything.

• They also rationed EVERYTHING!

#13

• What does “for the duration mean”?

• A. Until the War is over.

• B. Until Germany is defeated.

• C. Until Europe can produce its own food.

• D. Until people can grow the food needed for everyone in America.

#14

• How many gallons a week of gas would I get if I had an “A” Card?

• A. 10

• B. 7

• C. 3

• D. 2

#14

• How fast did the government want you to go during the war to save tires?

• A. No faster than 55

• B. No faster than 25

• C. No faster than 60

• D. No faster than 35

#15

• What question should you be asking yourself when you travel?

• A. Does the Army need this gasoline?

• B. Is this trip really necessary?

• C. Should I take the train instead?

• D. What type of Sticker on the car do I need?

Uncle Sam last week assumed the role of fashion designer.  Sweeping restrictions aim to save 15 percent of the yardage now used on women's and girls' apparel through such measures as restricting hems and belts to two inches, eliminating cuffs on sleeves. Also gone are nylons. Exempt categories include bridal gowns, maternity dresses, vestments for religious orders. - Life Magazine, April 20, 1942

# 16

• According to the article in the previous slide, what group was going to have to do without nylons and cuffs?

• A. Men.

• B. Women.

• C. Factory Workers.

• D. Garment Workers.

#17

• According to the article the lack of nylons:

• A. Were never a problem• B. Lasted until the War

was over.• C. Lasted long after the

War was over.• D. Kept men & women

from working.

#18

• What was the first non-food item rationed by the government?

• A. Gas

• B. Rubber

• C. Steel

• D. Elastic

#19

• What did the Government start again (they had it during WWI as well) for the duration?

• A. Scrapping metal

• B. Driving schools

• C. Canning Classes

• D. Daylight Savings Time

#20

• What program would go well with this poster during the War?

• A. Victory Gardens

• B. Gas Rationing

• C. Sugar Borrowing

• D. Meatless Mondays

Civil Defense

Sabotage

• Because America was nation of former immigrants there was worry about letting too many secrets slip.

• Posters minced no words about the results of careless talk.

• Posters vividly portrayed the costs of loose talk. 

• During the War, the FBI arrested over 5,000 German and Japanese spies (who has real information), on American soil.

• Most of them said they got their info from American workers.

This 1942 Civil Defense Index booklet offers advice useful to

civilians on the home front.  Information is given for air raids, blackouts, bombs, poison gas, as

well as first aid situations.

• The War became a part of everybody’s life.

• Civil Defense

• Air Raid Wardens

• Rolling Bandages for the Red Cross.

• Any thing to contribute to the War front and bring our boys home!

• Air Raid Warden fits man for mask in case of attack in Milwaukee Wisconsin!

Many historians credit this attitude with America winning the War

Rosie the Rivetor

Along with the production of this…

#21

• This poster deals with:

• A. Loss of War Materials.

• B. The Black Market

• C. Sabotage

• D. Government Waste

#22 What is the name of the person below?

#23

• What war ration stamp did you need to buy shoes from Sears?

#24

This poster show recruiting for Women in the Nursing Corps.

Why were women needed in the Nursing Corps?

#25

• What illegal group in America is this poster out fight, by saying “I’m out to lick runaway prices”?