ORGANIZING THE AMERICAN ECONOMY FOR WAR

WAR PRODUCTIONS BOARD (WPA)

Converted (changed) industries military production

American businesses mobilized their resources to serve the needs of the military.

Automobile manufacturers went from car engines to airplane and tank engines

Soft drink company to artillery shells

Model trains to bomb fuses

MOBILIZATION

MOBILIZATION/PROPAGANDA Write the definition of

propaganda

I think…

I know…

These posters remind me of…because…

Share one response with your neighbor.

HOW DID THE UNITED STATES PAY FOR THE WAR?

Government spending rose

Paid for WWII the same way it paid for WWI

Raised Taxes Individual and corporate (businesses) Congress began withholding a certain amount of money

from people’s paychecks to make tax collection easier (we still have this system today)

Borrowing Banks/financial institutions American people: war bonds

RATIONING

Rationing: a fixed portion or amount of a particular product (flashcard) The U.S. government rationed about 20 consumer products.

Gasoline, tires, sugar, meats, etc… American consumers received books of coupons each

month to purchase rationed items.

Ensured that everyone would have fairly equal access to those goods.

PEOPLE DO THEIR PART ON THE HOME FRONT

Saved gasoline by riding their bicycles to work and forming car pools

Recycled metal, paper, and rubber.

Planted victory gardens

Buying bonds

Helped with morale of the American public “I am making a contribution to the war effort”

CONSEQUENCES OF MOBILIZATION

1. Unemployment low

2. People have $$$$ to spend

3. Not enough consumer products available

Why? Factories are making products for war

4. People can charge a higher price for what products are available

What does the U.S. government do?

Price Controls: restrictions on the prices charged for goods.

AND…

EXIT SLIP

1. How did businesses in the United States help mobilize for WWII?

2. What is one way that the United States government paid for resources needed to mobilize for WWII?

3. How are WWI and WWII similar?

4. Why was rationing necessary during WWII?