1. World War II

2. Why it Matters
World War II, the most destructive war in history, resulted in the deaths of more than 40 million people.
More than half of the deaths were civilians, including about 6 million Jews and many others that were killed in the Holocaust.
At the end of the war, the US emerged as the strongest nation in the world and the possessor of a powerful weapon, the atomic bomb.

3. The Impact Today
World War II marked the beginning of the nation’s roles as a superpower.
The war also transformed the American economy into an enormously productive and enduringly prosperous economy.

4. World War II
Players

5. Rise of Dictators Hitler (Germany) Mussolini (Italy) Stalin
(Soviet Union)

6. Japan
Thought they could solve Japan’s problems by expanding power in Asia
1931 – launched an attack on the province of Manchuria in northeastern China
1937 – invaded northern China, moving southward until it occupied most of the country
1940 – signed a pact of alliance, known as the “Axis,” with Germany and Italy

7. The United States Wanted to remain neutral
Isolationist ideas became even stronger in the early 1930’s
Nye Committee – documented profits arms factories made during World War I, giving the impression that these businesses influenced US involvement
Passage of Neutrality Acts of 1935 and 1937

8. World War II Timeline

9. Early American involvement
America Enters WWII
Early American involvement

10. FDR: Four Freedoms Fighting for the “Four Freedoms”
(1) freedom of speech
(2) freedom of worship
(3) freedom from want
(4) freedom from fear

11. Early American Involvement
The Neutrality Act of 1939
“cash and carry” basis for arms sale with Britain and France
Destroyers-for-Bases Deal
1940: we give Britain old American destroyers in exchange for the right to build American bases on British-controlled Newfoundland, Bermuda, and islands in the Caribbean

12. Early American Involvement
Lend Lease Act – the US would be able to lend or lease arms to any country considered “vital to the defense of the United States”
Hemispheric Defense Zones
Declared that the entire western half of the Atlantic was part of the Western Hemisphere and therefore neutral
US Navy patrol the western Atlantic and reveal the location of German subs to the British

13. Escalating Tensions: Germany
September, 1941
German U-boat fired on American ship radioing the U-boat’s positions to the British
FDR responded: shoot on sight policy toward German subs
October, 1941
Germans target two American destroyers

14. Escalating Tensions: Japan
Britain needed to keep most of its navy in Asia to protect their interests there from Japan
As Germany kept taking out British ships, the British had to pull some from Southeast Asia to the Atlantic
Enter FDR - - introduce policies to discourage the Japanese from attacking the British empire

15. Escalating Tensions: Japan
July, 1940 – Export Control Act
FDR has the power to restrict the sale of strategic materials to other nations
Immediately blocked the sale of airplane fuel and scrap iron to Japan
1941
FDR began sending lend-lease aid to China in an effort to assist the Chinese in preventing the Japanese from attacking elsewhere
Did not work: Japanese sent troops into Indochina

16. Escalating Tensions Japanese respond FDR responds
froze all Japanese assets in the US; reduced the amount of oil being shipped to Japan; sent General Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines to build up American defenses there
Japanese respond
War in China now in jeopardy because of a lack of oil and other resources; Plans to attack the resource-rich British and Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia; Decide to seize the Philippines and to attack the American fleet at Pearl Harbor

17. “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of Japan… I believe I interpret the will of Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but shall never endanger us again… No matter how long it may take us… the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.”
~ FDR

18. Changes on the homefront
America Enters WWII
Changes on the homefront

19. MOBILIZING FOR WAR

20. Mobilizing the Economy
Government signed cost-plus contracts
Government agreed to pay a company whatever it cost to make a product plus a guaranteed percentage of the costs as profit
The more a company produced and the faster it did all the work, the more money it would make
War Production Board (WPB)
Authority to set priorities and production goals and to control the distribution of raw materials and supplies
Still problems: clash with military who continued to sign contracts without consulting the WPB
Solution: Office of War Mobilization - - settle arguments between different agencies

21. ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

22. Mobilizing the Economy
Wage and Price Control
Office of Economic Stabilization (OES)
Regulated wages and the price of farm products
Office of Price Administration (OPA)
Regulated all other prices
Both worked to control inflation
War Labor Board worked to prevent striking

23. Mobilizing the Economy
Blue Points, Red Points
Rationing (limiting the availability of many products to make sure enough were available for military use)
Meat and sugar were rationed for the army
Gas was rationed: driving restricted and speed limit was set at 35 miles an hour
Ration coupons
Blue = controlled processed foods
Red = controlled meats, fats, and oils
Give over enough coupons to cover your purchases

24. Mobilizing the Economy
Victory Gardens
Planted gardens to produce more food
Any area of land may be a garden
Government encouraged
Scrap Drives
Collected spare rubber, tin, aluminum, and steel
Donated pots, tires, tin cans, car bumpers, broken radiators, and rusting bicycles
Collect bacon grease and meat drippings

25. Mobilizing the Economy
Paying for the war
Federal government spent more than $300 billion
Raised taxes (covered 45% of costs)
Issued war bonds
Buying a bond = loaning money to the government
Bond can be cashed in at a future date with interest
Most common = E bonds
Buy for $18.75 and get $25.00 after 10 years
Americans bought $50 billion worth
Banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions bought over $100 billion worth

26. DOUBLE V Double V” Campaign
fight for victory over Hitler’s racism abroad and a victory over racism at home

27. African Americans Demand War Work
Factories were resisting hiring African Americans
A. Philip Randolph (Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters) decided to take action
Informed FDR of a march on Washington
FDR issued the Executive Order 8802 declaring there should be “no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color, or national origin.”
Fair Employment Practices Commission was created to enforce the order - - first civil rights agency

28. Women in Defense Plants
Married women were now taking industrial jobs traditionally reserved for men
Shipyards
Aircraft factories
Other manufacturing plants
“Rosie the Riveter”
About 2.5 million women went to work in industry

31. Japanese Relocation Korematsu v. United States
(1944) Henry Korematsu argued that his rights had been violated. The Supreme Court ruled against him, saying the relocation was based on “military urgency” and not on race.
Overturned in 1945 in Ex Parte Endo when it said that loyal American citizens could not be held against their will

32. Effects of WWII
Social

33. WOMEN IN THE 1950S

36. Effects of WWII
Economic

38. Overall, the US economy grew by 4% in the 1950s, as productivity rose along with population.

39. Effects of WWII
Political

40. UNITED NATIONS

41. Building a New World Creating the United Nations (UN)
A new international political organization
General Assembly
Where every member nation in the world would have one vote
Power to vote on resolutions, to choose non-permanent members of Security Council, and vote on UN budget
Security Council
11 members, 5 of them permanent: Britain, France, China, the Soviet Union, and the US (had veto power)
Responsible for international peace and security
Investigate problems, propose solutions
Take actions to preserve peace: use military force

42. Building a New World Putting the enemy on trial
International Military Tribunal (IMT)
Nuremberg Trials, the IMT tried German leaders suspected of committing war crimes
22 leaders were prosecuted
3 acquitted, 7 given sentences, and remaining 12 sentenced to death by hanging
Trials of lower-ranking government officials and military officers
24 executed and 107 given prison sentences

43. Building a New World Putting the enemy on trial
Similar trials were held in Japan
Charged 25 Japanese leaders with a variety of war crimes
Did not indict the Japanese emperor
Feared any attempt to put him on trial would lead to an uprising

44. COMMUNISM

45. Cold War Beginnings

46. DVD: Symbols of the Cold War