The American Home Front USII.7c

American involvement in World War II helped the U.S. economy and changed the lives of many Americans as businesses, soldiers, and citizens worked to prepare the United States for war.

American involvement in World War II brought an end to the GREAT DEPRESSION.

End to the Great Depression FACTORY WORKERS were needed to produce goods to win the war Factories ran 24 hours a day, producing ships, tanks, jeeps, guns, and ammunition UNEMPLOYMENT fell to 1% in 1944 AGRICULTURAL production increased as FARMERS sent food overseas to feed Allied soldiers

Americans were asked to make SACRIFICES in support of the war effort and the ideals for which Americans fought.

Sacrifices are Made at Home Americans supported the war effort by CONSERVING and RATIONING resources. Conserving: using LESS of what you have and donating what you can to the war effort Rationing: government LIMITS on how much of something you could buy. All extra supplies were sent to soldiers fighting in the war

Sacrifices are Made at Home VICTORY GARDENS planted at home allowed more commercially produced food to be sent from farms to troops overseas.

Sacrifices are Made at Home Americans were encouraged to write LETTERS to loved ones or to an anonymous soldier to build MORALE.

The war brought new opportunities for many women and minorities.

New Roles for Women Thousands of American women took jobs in DEFENSE PLANTS to fill positions left VACANT by male soldiers. Women found themselves doing work that was traditionally considered “UNLADYLIKE.”

New Roles for Women Women filled new roles in military service. About 300,000 women served in the armed forces through special divisions Army and navy NURSES served in combat areas

The need for workers, especially in defense plants, temporarily broke down some RACIAL barriers, although DISCRIMINATION against African Americans continued.

New Roles for Minorities President Roosevelt issued an order prohibiting racial discrimination in the government and in companies producing WAR GOODS. African American workers received lower PAY than white workers Restricted in the kinds of JOBS they were hired to perform

New Roles for Minorities About 1 million African Americans served in the armed forces during the war, mostly in SEGREGATED units. African Americans were assigned only to SUPPORT positions and denied the right to participate in COMBAT. Many African American soldiers became national heroes during the war.

New Roles for Minorities Tuskegee Airmen: first African American military pilots who flew missions in North Africa and Italy

While many JAPANESE Americans served in the armed forces, others were treated with distrust and prejudice, and many were forced into INTERNMENT CAMPS.

INTERNMENT: forced relocation and imprisonment

Reasons for Internment After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, some Americans began to look at Americans of Japanese descent with fear and SUSPICION. It was feared that Japanese Americans would serve as SECRET AGENTS for Japan, help Japan prepare an invasion of the West Coast, or SABOTAGE U.S. war efforts.

President Roosevelt issued EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 which allowed the government to begin the process of internment of Japanese Americans

Japanese Internment About 115,000 Japanese Americans were evacuated from their homes and held in isolated internment camps Japanese Americans lost their homes, jobs, and belongings Government initially BANNED young Japanese American men from serving in the military, but the ban was lifted in 1943 A smaller number of GERMAN and ITALIAN Americans were also held in internment camps during the war.