War Production

Cecelia McCann, Emily Carnevale, Cole Slavitt, Emily Goldberg, Deanna Moschella, Jonathan Kui, Ally Royce

Changed American Industry!

Instead of manufacturing consumer goods, factories produced products that would benefit war

“The average Ford car had some 15,000 parts. The B-24 Liberator long-range bomber had 1,550,000. One came off the line every 63 minutes.”

Goals for the Nation’s Factories!

President Roosevelt wanted factories to produce:● 60,000 aircrafts in 1942 and 125,000 in 1943● 120,000 tanks● 55,000 antiaircraft guns

In order to have the government involved they created the War Production Board in 1942 and the Office of War Mobilization in 1943.“We must out-produce them overwhelmingly, so that there can be no question of our ability to provide a crushing superiority of equipment in any theatre of the world war.” – Franklin D Roosevelt

Raising Money for War!

Government techniques:● American people were called to ration certain

commodities, creating more tax revenue by decreasingthe personal exemption● Selling government war bonds in individuals and

financial institutions

These methods kept inflation under control

Labor Unions!

● As war production increased= HIGH DEMAND, LOW SUPPLY

● Tensions were high between labor unions, but felt the need to protect workers’ rights

● Citizens were outraged to hear about any work stoppages, and that the labor unions could not stop the strikes despite the “no-strike pledges” each person had taken

1943: The United Mine Workers ● Workers went on strike and

newspapers condemned the miners as traitors

JUNE 25, 1943: War Labor Disputes Act● Authorized the President to

take over plants needed for war production that had stopped works b/c of disputes

Minorities in the Workforce!

“Eight million women stepped into the workforce and ethnic groups such as African Americans and Latinos found job opportunities as never before.”

Important Cities!● Before the war Mobile, Alabama acted

as a hub for job hunterso Known for:

Alumina production Ship production (massive ports and workforce)

● Another city that helped find people jobs was Waterbury, Connecticuto Known for:

Creating cartridge clips for the Springfield rifle (American Brass Company )

Brass rods, sheets and tubes Cartridge cases, mortar shells, small caliber bullets Components used in the atomic bomb

Chase Brass and Copper Company