1. Mobilizing for Defense
Ch 25 Sect 1
Pg 768

2. Americans Join the War Effort
After Pearl Harbor, young Americans were eager to join the military.
Selective Service System expanded the draft and drafted 10 million more men.

3. Minorities Join the War Effort
Women
George Marshall pushed for the formation of Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps
Women served in non combat positions.
Gave an official status to women & a salary
Nurses, drivers, pilots
African Americans
Questioned whether it was their war to fight.
1 million joined the military
Lived & worked in segregated units.
Non combat positions

4. Industrial Response
Nation’s industry retooled to produce tanks, planes, boats, & ammunition.
Industries hired more than 2 million minority workers during the war.
Faced prejudices
Protests
A. Phillip Randolph – organized a march on Washington.
Called on African Americans everywhere to come to the capital to protest the right of African Americans to work & fight in the U.S.

5. Mobilization of Scientists
U.S. created the office of Scientific Research and Development
Improvements in radar technology & pesticides to fight insects.
“miracle drugs” – penicillin
Secret development of the atomic bomb
In 1942 an intensive program was set up to make a bomb as quickly as possible.
Manhattan Project – code name for the atomic bomb development

6. Economic Controls Office of Price Administration War Production Board
Fought inflation by freezing prices
Raised income tax
Encouraged Americans to use extra money to buy war bonds.
War Production Board
Responsible for ensuring the military had needed supplies.
Converted peacetime factories to wartime production.

7. Rationing
Rationing – establishing fixed allotments of goods needed for the military.
Households received ration books w/ coupons to be used for buying certain goods.
Americans accepted rationing as a personal contribution to the war effort.

8. Answer these questions
What was the Selective Service System and how did it help the United States meet manpower needs?
What contributions did women and minorities make to the military effort?
How did American industry contribute to the war effort?
How did the war create new job opportunities for women and minorities?
How did scientists help the war effort?
How did the mass media contribute to the war effort?
How did the Federal government act to control the economy?
How did government actions affect everyday life?