1. America in World War II
chapter 21 PART 1 AND 3

2. The US Mobilizes for War
When America entered World War II, it had the world’s 19th largest military. Within three years, the US was producing 40% of the worlds weapons of war. (The Arsenal of Democracy)
President Roosevelt knew that America did not have the navy or air force available to fight a war on TWO FRONTS (Pacific & Europe)
He knew that we would take some defeats before we knew victory
Churchill knew America’s industrial power would turn the war in the Allies favor.
Converting the US Economy before 1941
Began in 1940 before the Japanese attack on Pearl when the US began building 50,000 planes/year & plans for a “Two Ocean Navy” for $4 billion.
The Army-Navy Munitions Board- military agency in charge of buying war supplies began signing contracts with US businesses.
FDR created the National Defense Advisory – he placed business leaders on it to advise him; decided to give “incentives” for factories to start making war materials.
** “Cost Plus Contract” – US gov’t agreed to pay a company whatever it cost to make a product plus a guaranteed percentage profit.

3. Effects of the Cost-Plus Contract System
got materials produced quickly and in great quantities
Convinced many US companies to convert to war production
By the Fall of 1941, much of the US economy had not yet mobilized for war because many US companies preferred to make consumer goods. The attack on Pearl Harbor changed everything. By the summer of 1942:
US government orders for war materials began
Almost all major industries & 200,000 companies were making war materials
The Depression was ending as unemployment went down
The Role of the Auto Industry
Uniquely suited for mass production of war equipment
Produced jeeps, planes, and tanks
The Ford assembly line for B-24 “Liberator” Bombers in Detroit
The auto industry produced 1/3 of all war equipment

5. Mobilizing the US Economy
The Liberty Ships
The basic cargo ship used during WWII
Built by Henry Kaiser’s ship building facility
Used prefabricated parts brought to the shipyard for assembly
Used mass production techniques: Start of war it took 244 days to build one Liberty ship— average time dropped to 41 days.
Kaiser’s shipyard built 3,000 ships (30% of all American ships during the war).
The War Production Board (WPB)
Created by FDR due to constant disputes by business leaders and government agency's about contracts & supplies.
WPB given authority to set war production priorities, allocate raw materials.

7. Building an Army
Another part of the war mobilization process was build up our armed forces to win the war.
American attitudes Changed
1939– FDR expanded the army to 227,000
Spring college students, labor unions, isolationists and many Congressmen opposed a peacetime draft.
1940— After the fall of France– attitudes began to change.
The Selective Service & Training Act– Congress created a plan for the 1st peacetime draft in US History.
New Recruits become soldiers
So many volunteered after Pearl Harbor that the Army could not cope.
New Recruits lived in tents instead of barracks
Issued boots, uniforms labeled “GI” or Government Issue
Faced equipment shortages
8 weeks basic training
US Military was segregated with white officers commanding black troops.

9. Minorities and the War Effort
Some African Americans did not want to support the war because of the discrimination they faced at home and in the military.
The Double V Campaign
Black groups like the National Urban League encouraged blacks to support the war effort.
They would also address racial segregation & discrimination after the war.
Double V--- A double victory over Hitler’s racism abroad & racism here at home.
Blacks Served Proudly
FDR ordered the US military to recruit black troops and put them in combat.
1941 – the US Air Force created The 99th Pursuit Squadron (Tuskegee Airmen): black fighter pilots.
Helped win Battle of Anzio in Italy
332nd Fighter Group protected US bombers on bombing raids.
1948- President Harry Truman will finally DESEGREGATE THE US MILITARY.

10. Minorities and the War Effort
Japanese-Americans
At first were not allowed to serve in the US military.
Later in the war the the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team composed of Japanese-Americans became the most decorated unit of the war.
Women in the War
Women joined the armed forces as they had done in WWI.
The US Army enlisted women for the 1st time--clerical roles –not combat.
1942- Congress created WAAC (Women’s Auxiliary Army Corp)—not part of the real army.
1943- Congress created WAC (Women’s Army Corp) – part of the real army led by Oveta Culp Hobby.
WASPS (Women Air force Service Pilots)- women flew newly built planes to there delivery points.
68,000 women also served as nurses in the army & navy

11. Life on the Home Front
Chapter 20 part 3

12. Women & Minorities Gain Ground
Women & African-Americans gained new work opportunities during the war, but Latinos & Japanese-Americans faced obstacles. The US Government controlled wages, prices of goods, rationed goods and encouraged recycling to help the war effort.
The War Began to Change America
Ended the Great Depression (19 million new jobs created)
Workers had to move to where the defense factories were hiring
White male workers were fighting, so companies began to hire more women.
WOMEN AND THE WAR EFFORT AT HOME
Before the war, most Americans believed women should not work outside the home.
“Rosie the Riveter” became the symbol of the working woman in the war effort
By the end of the war, the number of working women increased from 12.9 million to million.
Changed US attitudes about women working outside the home.

13. Image of Rosie the Riveter

14. Minorities Gain Ground
African-Americans
US Factories were resistant to hire African-Americans.
A. Phillip Randolph (head of a black labor union) threatened a march on Washington D.C. to address hiring discrimination & segregation in the military.
FDR issued Executive Order 8802 – ordered that any factory making war goods for the US Government cannot discriminate based on race, creed, color, or national origin.
FDR created the Fair Employment Practices Commission to enforce 8802.
The Great Migration of blacks to the north that started in WWI began to slow during the Great Depression but, started again during WWII.
Mexican Workers
US Government created the Bracero Program which allowed more than 200,000 Mexican migrant farm workers to come to the US to help in the Southwest.

15. A Nation on the Move
The war economy created millions of jobs but, many Americans had to move to where the jobs were located.
The Growth of the SUNBELT
15 million Americans moved during the war
Most Americans headed South and West to work in war factories.
A new industrial region was created called the Sunbelt. (California through the South).
Migration Creates Housing Problems
The US government created public housing and funded ($1.2 billion)
National Housing Agency (NHA)– coordinated all public housing

17. Racism Leads to Violence
The Great Migration of blacks leaving the south to work in northern & western war factories resumed during WWII causing racial tension in northern and western cities.
Violence & Intolerance against Blacks
Blacks were met with suspicion & intolerance in many neighborhoods.
The Detroit Race Riots race riot erupted at a local river park and the violence reached the city (25 African-Americans dead; 9 whites dead).
The Zoot Suit Riots
Caused by racism against Mexican-Americans
A suit popular with Mexican-American youth caused a riot in California.
‘Victory Suit” vs. the “Zoot Suit”
2,500 US soldiers & sailors attacked Mexican-American neighborhood & police did nothing.
500,000 Hispanic Americans served in the armed forces during the war.

18. Japanese-American Relocation
When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, many Americans living on the west coast turned their anger towards Japanese-Americans & Japanese immigrants.
Some banks refused them loans
Some Americans vandalized their businesses
US newspapers reported rumors about them
FDR signed Executive Order 9066 which allowed for the removal of Japanese-Americans from their homes to 10 internment camps.
Korematsu v. the US (1944)- The Supreme Court ruled that relocation of Japanese- Americans was constitutional because it was not based on race but, military urgency.
Ex parte Endo (1944)- the Supreme Court ruled that loyal Americans could not be held against their will---government began to release from internment camps.
1988- Pres. Reagan apologized and Congress gave each surviving internment camp survivor $20,000.

20. Daily Life During Wartime in the US
Other issues caused by the war were rising prices, shortages of goods, and how to pay for the war.
Wage & Price Controls
Wages rose quickly because of high demand for workers
Prices for goods rose due to demand for raw materials.
FDR created the Office of Price Administration- kept inflation under control
FDR created the Office of Economic Stabilization – regulated wages & prices for farm products.
The War Labor Board – worked to prevent strikes; resolved 17,000 labor disputes during the war.
Rationing Programs
The OPA began a rationing program to make sure the military had enough supplies.
Items rationed: meat, sugar, gas
Each household was given a booklet of ration coupons each month.
“Blue coupons” or Blue Points- rationed processed foods.
“Red Coupons” or Red Points- rationed meats, fats, oils

21. Americans Grew Victory Gardens and Bought Bonds
Americans grew these to produce more food for the war effort
Turned backyards, empty lots, city parks etc. into a garden
Scrap Drives-
volunteers collected scrap rubber, tin, steel, aluminum
Oils & fats collected for explosives in exchange for extra coupons.
Paying for the War
US government spent $300 billion during WWII
US government raised some income taxes (covered only 45% of war’s cost)
War Bonds- the Government sold bonds to citizens & businesses (most common E-Bonds)
Individuals bought $50 billion in bonds
Businesses bought $ 100 billion in bonds

22. panty hose WERE DONATED