The War at Home: How did WWII Affect America? Essential Questions: How were America and the world different because of the events of World War II? What changes to society resulted from the treatment of various groups of people during World War II? How and why did World War II impact the economic, social, cultural, and political life of the U.S.? How did the war bring about innovation and change on the home front? How are civil liberties challenged during times of conflict? How does a nations involvement in international conflicts affect politics and society at home? US Preparations for War Prior to entering WWII, FDR began increasing the size of the US military and ordered increased production of war materials like planes The government awarded factory owners with lucrative contracts to increase military production After Pearl Harbor, almost all US industry was converted to military use War Production Board Created after US entered the war to regulate war-time industry by deciding priorities, setting production goals, and controlling distribution of raw materials and supplies A Nation on the Move Over 15 million Americans moved during the war to fill open jobs Many moved into major industrial centers in the North, Midwest, and California. But more moved into the Sunbelt across the southern US Once again, millions of blacks left the South for northern and western cities, leading to racial tensions (the Second Great Migration) Women in the Workforce As men entered military service, women stepped into traditionally male roles, such as working in factories Millions of women entered the US workforce and would show some reluctance to leave it after the war Rosie the Riveter Character based on a popular song about a woman who took a factory job to support her Marine boyfriend in the war Became a nationally recognized symbol for the important role of women workers Bracero Program Due to labor shortages on farms in the Southwest US, the federal government arranged for Mexican workers to help with the harvest Over 200,000 Mexicans entered the US as part of the Bracero Program, and began a tradition of US reliance on Latino migrant farmers Automobile Industry & War: The Wartime Miracle ! Auto factories were among first converted to war production, making jeeps, tanks, trucks, and other gear Henry Ford even began building bombers on his assembly lines By end of WWII, auto industry had produced 1/3 of all US military supplies used Liberty Ships Standardized cargo ships which could be produced quickly (could be built in just 42 days), cheaply, and in large numbers Ships seams were welded, rather than riveted, which made them both cheaper and harder to sink Over 2700 were built during the war, and only about 300 were sunk War Revenue War cost more than $300 billion more money than the US government had spent in its entire existence War Bonds: sold over $150 billion in bonds (small private loans) Income taxes: withheld directly from peoples paychecks for the first time; tax rate raised Wartime Rationing Ration books: to purchase many goods (tires, gas, silk stockings, etc.), consumers had to have special coupons allowing them to buy Victory Gardens: Americans were encouraged to grow their own food where possible Scrap drives: rubber, tin, aluminum, steel, animal fats and grease were all collected for recycling Patriotism & Propaganda Posters: America was covered with propaganda posters promoting everything from recycling to enlistment Newsreels: movie theaters showed patriotic films, pro-US news clips to keep Americans motivated Selective Service and Training Act Passed in 1940, after the fall of France to Germany First peace-time draft in US history Required 12 months service if drafted (requirement dropped during war) All men ages had to register (expanded during WWII to ages 18 65) Over the 7 years the act was in effect, over 10 million were drafted Women in the Military US Army accepted women for the first time (Womens Army Corp- WAC), but in non-combat roles, to free up more men for combat service Over 275,000 women would serve in the WAC & WAVES (US Navys Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) Double V Campaign Due to a segregated military, some blacks did not support the war Others supported the idea of a Double V campaign by fighting in the war, African- Americans could win a double victory victories over Hitlers racism abroad and over racism at home Benjamin O. Davis 1877 1970 Joined Army during Spanish-American War, worked his way up from Private Highest ranking black officer in the US Army, was first black promoted to General Promoted by FDR to show support for ending discrimination in the armed forces Black Soldiers Although the military remained segregated until after the war (1948), all-black units served with distinction and began to win respect from the military leadership and from their fellow soldiers Tuskegee Airmen 99 th Pursuit Squadron All-black unit trained as fighter pilots at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama Once allowed to entire combat in the European Theater as bomber-escorts, they proved their ability by not losing a single bomber on missions in which they were providing the protection Executive Order 8802 Due to discriminatory hiring practices in the US, Roosevelt issued an executive order in June 1941, banning racial discrimination in government hiring and in industries engaged as defense contractors Established the Fair Employment Practices Commission to enforce the order the first federal civil rights agency since Reconstruction ended Native American Soldiers Thousands of Native Americans served, especially in the Marine Corps About 300 Navajo worked as code talkers, using their native language to transmit radio messages for the Marines, a code which was never broken by the Japanese! Hispanic-American Soldiers Despite episodes of racism, over 500,000 Hispanic Americans served in the Armed Forces during the war, primarily Mexicans and Puerto Ricans They served in every theater of the war and won 17 Medals of Honor Japanese-American Soldiers Again, despite racism, many Japanese- Americans served in the US Armed Forces during the war, including the 442 nd Regimental Combat Team, who became the most decorated unit of the entire war JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMPS Japanese Internment Camps Fear of spies and saboteurs amongst the Japanese- American population on the West Coast prompted the US to relocate over 100,000 to internment camps Those interned lost homes, businesses, and jobs while detained from Daily Life in the Internment Camps Families stayed in tarpaper barracks Families dined together in communal mess halls Children were expected to attend school Adults had the option of working for a salary of $5 per day Recreational activities, like baseball, were organized to pass the time Some interns volunteered to serve in army regiments and went on to distinguish themselves in battle Korematsu v. US Dec Fred Korematsu sued the US government, claiming that his rights had been violated US Supreme Court ruled that the internment camps were legal because they were a matter of military urgency and were not based on race, but also ruled that loyal US citizens can not be held against their will, prompting the government to begin releasing those held at the camps