1. The United States Mobilizes for War

2. Topic: From Isolation to World War (1930-1945) The isolationist approach to foreign policy meant U.S. leadership in world affairs diminished after World War I. Overseas, certain nations saw the growth of tyrannical governments that reasserted their power through aggression and created conditions leading to the Second World War. After Pearl Harbor, the United States entered World War II, which changed the country’s focus from isolationism to international involvement.

3. Content Statement: The United States mobilization of its economic and military resources during World War II brought significant changes to American society.

4. Expectations for Learning: Identify and explain changes American society experienced with the mobilization of its economic and military resources during World War II.

5. Mobilizing For War: The Home Front Mobilize: Get ready for war We were not ready, but... – Peacetime Draft was started in 1940 – 1.6 million in the army by1941 – Guns, planes, tanks, and ships built This got the United States completely out of the Great Depression

6. Converting for Wartime Factories starting making war materials – Full employment – Prosperity on the home front

7. Rationing Ration: an allotted amount This time rationing was mandatory it had been voluntary during WWI Americans were issued books of stamps for key items – Gasoline, sugar, meat, butter, canned foods, fuel oil, shoes, and rubber – These items couldn’t be purchased without a stamp

8. Other Mobilization Efforts Scrap metal was gathered so that it could be used for the war effort People planted “victory gardens” in small backyard patches or even in window boxes on fire escapes to supplement food supplies Some unions signed no-strike pledges Regulations were imposed on some wages and prices

9. Paying for the War War cost $321 billion Taxes were raised to generate revenue and control inflation War bonds sold to help raise money during the war – $100 billion sold

10. Propaganda Information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

11. Propaganda U.S. created Office of War Information – Promoted public support for war – Used propaganda  Movies  Advertisements  Artwork

12. Women in the Service Encouraged by Eleanor Roosevelt, FDR created the women's auxiliary forces – Army (WACs) – Navy (WAVES) – Air force (WASPS) – Coast Guard (SPARS)

13. Women on the Home Front They were actively recruited into what had been non-traditional work for women, including such jobs as – Welding – Machinist – Construction – Bus and truck driving – Lumberjacks – Blast furnace operators – Blacksmiths – Doctors – Chemists – Lawyers

14. Rosie the Riveter “Rosie the Riveter” posters asked housewives to leave the home and enter the nation's factories About 6.5 million women entered the workforce during the war, many for the first time

15. Black Women and WWII More than 6,500 black women volunteered in the WAC Only one all-black WAC unit served overseas – They were responsible for keeping mail flowing to the more than seven million servicemen and women in Europe

16. Black Women and WWII On the home front black women benefit – More jobs available – Better jobs available

17. African-Americans in WWII Despite a high enlistment rate in the U.S. Army, African Americans were not treated equally Racial tensions existed At parades, church services, in transportation and canteens the races were kept separate

18. African-Americans in WWII Most African American soldiers still served only as truck drivers and laborers In the Battle of the Bulge, General Eisenhower was short of replacement troops for existing all white military units He allowed African American soldiers to join the white military units to fight in combat for the first time This was an important step toward a desegregated U.S. military

19. Dr. Charles Drew African American surgeon and researcher Pioneered methods of storing blood plasma for transfusion Organized the first large-scale blood bank in the U.S.

20. Dr. Charles Drew Directed the blood plasma programs of the U.S. and Great Britain in WWII At first, the military did not want to use blood from African Americans, but they later said it could only be used for African-American soldiers – He was outraged by this racist policy – Resigned his position

21. A. Philip Randolph Organized the first predominantly African American labor union Led the movement that convinced FDR to issue an executive order in 1941, banning discrimination in the defense industries

22. A. Philip Randolph The group then successfully pressured President Harry S. Truman to issue an executive order in 1948, ending segregation in the armed services President Truman

23. Japanese Americans Over 127,000 U.S. citizens were imprisoned during World War II because they were of Japanese ancestry Despite the lack of any concrete evidence, Japanese Americans were suspected of remaining loyal to their ancestral land

24. Internment Camps President Roosevelt signed an executive order in February, 1942 ordering the relocation of all Americans of Japanese ancestry to concentration camps in the interior of the U.S. Evacuation orders were posted in Japanese-American communities giving instructions on how to comply

25. Internment Camps Many families sold their homes, their stores, and most of their assets – These were often sold at a fraction of their true value Almost two-thirds of the interns were Japanese Americans born in the U.S. It made no difference that many had never even been to Japan

26. Internment Camps Even Japanese- American veterans of World War I were forced to leave their homes The Supreme Court justified the executive order as a wartime necessity

27. Internment Camps Last camp closed in 1946 Hostility against Japanese Americans remained high across the West Coast into the postwar years as many villages displayed signs demanding that the evacuees never return

28. Japanese Immigrants in the U.S. Military As the war progressed, many of the young Japanese immigrants’ children who were born with American citizenship, volunteered or were drafted to serve in the U.S. military Video