1. US Entry to WWII & The Home front
1937 Japan Invades China
1939 after Appeasement fails Hitler invades Poland

2. Lend Lease Act
Allowed FDR to sell, lease or lend defense materials to Allies
economic declaration of war against Axis Powers
violated neutrality
In response Germany begins to attack merchant ships using U-Boats (same as WWI)

3. Selective Service “the Draft” Returns
Restarts in 1940: Congress issues the 1st ever peace time draft
Required men ages to register & train for military service
Many volunteer after Pear Harbor attack
8 weeks of training then off to fight
Shortage of weapons for training = soldiers held a weapon for the 1st time in the war!!

4. FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech
Freedom of Speech
Freedom from Fear
Freedom of Religion
Freedom from Want
The US needed to uphold American ideals and combat the aggression and totalitarianism of Nazi Germany

5. Pearl Harbor- 12/7/1941
Japan had relied on U.S. for natural resources (specifically oil) but the U.S. ended trade (embargo) with Japan…negotiations were unsuccessful
In response, General Hideki Tojo sent troops to bomb U.S. military base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941
surprise attack , many sailors in their racks/bunks
2,500 servicemen killed
disabled the base and supplies for 6 months
the U.S. enters the war on the Allied side

6. Effects of Pearl Harbor- Japanese Americans
U.S. begins to restrict the rights of Japanese living in the country because they were seen as disloyal
Japanese-Americans placed in internment camps (temporary imprisonment)
Korematsu vs. U.S. upheld the government’s ability to use internment camps against citizens during wartime

7. Coming out of the Great Depression
WWII production ends the Great Depression & increases employment
The USA becomes the “Arsenal of Democracy”
Wages Increased during WWII
WWII production will lead to a huge consumer boom after the war is over!!
Total War- everyone and everything is geared towards winning the war

8. Women in WWII Women’s Army Corps (WACs): gave army jobs to women
nurses, clerical work, typists, truck drivers, etc.
Just as in WWI, women filled in when men were off fighting the war
Rosie the Riveter: Nickname & Mascot of women in the workforce (on the left)
After war, lost jobs & unhappy…leads to the women rights movement

9. African Americans Served in segregated units
Tuskegee Airmen: 1st African American Airborne unit in the military
Still living in a segregated society even though working to support the war
Discriminated against in factories & industry
A. Phillip Randolph: Threatens a protest march on DC to protest treatment of African-Americans in the war industries

10. Japanese Americans
Distrusted because of Pearl Harbor
Internment Camps: Camps where Japanese Americans were forced to live during the war out of fear of their loyalty
FDR’s Executive Order 9066 was issued in Feb. 1942
Korematsu v USA, 1944: Korematsu sued b/c he believed his 5th Amendment right to due process was violated
Supreme Court said “internment camps were legal during times of war”
1965: Compensated for lost business & property George Bush issued a formal apology in 1988, granted $20K/each
Not always trusted, so couldn’t join the military until late in the war
Nisei troops serve in Europe only

11. Native Americans Native language was used as code for the US Military
“Code Talkers”
Code Talkers could not be allowed to be captured

12. Paying For the War War Bonds Just like in WWI
Sold to raise money for the war effort
You buy from the Government, they repay you later with interest
Income Tax
The number of people required to pay income taxes increased
Began practice of withholding taxes from paychecks

13. War Production Board
Established to convert from peacetime production to wartime production
Ford made planes not cars
Organized recycling drives
Just like in WWI

14. Office of Price Administration
Established controls on prices & inflation during the war
Oversaw rationing

15. Rationing Just like in WWI!
Food and Materials Main Goal is to support the War Effort
Gov’t. limits on the consumption of food & other items essential for the war
Ration stamp books issued for food, clothing, & other items
“we limit consumption at home so the boys fighting can eat”
Meatless, Wheatless, Lightless, etc. Days Return
Victory Gardens return
Take pressure off the public food supply

16. Office of War Information
Created propaganda to stir up patriotic feelings & get people to support the war