WWII and American WWII and American LifeLife

Mobilizing for War, Home Mobilizing for War, Home Front, and PropagandaFront, and Propaganda

Objective 10.03Objective 10.03

How Involved Should How Involved Should We Be?We Be?

•Nye Committee (1934)Nye Committee (1934)–Studied reasons for U.S. Studied reasons for U.S. involvement in WWIinvolvement in WWI

–Found that it was in American Found that it was in American commercial interest for the commercial interest for the Britain not to loseBritain not to lose•Had loaned them $2.3 billion Had loaned them $2.3 billion from 1915-1917from 1915-1917

How Involved Should How Involved Should We Be?We Be?

•Neutrality Acts (1935-1939)Neutrality Acts (1935-1939)–Growth of isolationism & non-Growth of isolationism & non-interventionisminterventionism

–U.S. could not be involved with U.S. could not be involved with any any ““belligerentsbelligerents””• Included Britain & Germany – Did not matter Included Britain & Germany – Did not matter

that Germany was aggressorthat Germany was aggressor

How Involved Should How Involved Should We Be?We Be?

•Cash & Carry (1939)Cash & Carry (1939)–Neutrality Act of 1939Neutrality Act of 1939–Allowed sale of military items Allowed sale of military items to the belligerents as long as to the belligerents as long as they paid in cash and came and they paid in cash and came and picked it uppicked it up• Favored British – Germany could not trade Favored British – Germany could not trade

across the Atlantic because it was controlled across the Atlantic because it was controlled by the Royal Navyby the Royal Navy

How Involved Should How Involved Should We Be?We Be?

• Lend-Lease (1941)Lend-Lease (1941)–U.S. U.S. ““loansloans”” Allied nations war Allied nations war materialsmaterials• In return, U.S. gets military bases in the In return, U.S. gets military bases in the

Pacific & CaribbeanPacific & Caribbean

How Involved Should How Involved Should We Be?We Be?

•RooseveltRoosevelt’’s s ““Four FreedomsFour Freedoms”” (Jan. (Jan. 1941)1941)1.1. Freedom of speech & expressionFreedom of speech & expression2.2. Freedom of worshipFreedom of worship3.3. Freedom from wantFreedom from want4.4. Freedom from fearFreedom from fear

FDR makes it clear that he wants to FDR makes it clear that he wants to become involved in the warbecome involved in the war

Asks Congress to approve a massive Asks Congress to approve a massive arms build-up to give to Britain arms build-up to give to Britain

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor•December 7, 1941December 7, 1941

• The United States is attack by The United States is attack by Japan!Japan!

• FDR no longer has to continue FDR no longer has to continue breaking isolationist policybreaking isolationist policy– We declare war the next dayWe declare war the next day

Mobilizing for WarMobilizing for War• IndustryIndustry–Became greatest in the worldBecame greatest in the world–Started before Pearl HarborStarted before Pearl Harbor–Cost-Plus helped production—Cost-Plus helped production—paid companies the cost of paid companies the cost of producing goods plus producing goods plus percentagepercentage

– Industries switched—Industries switched—automobile plants produced automobile plants produced tanks, etc.tanks, etc.

•Building ForcesBuilding Forces–Selective Service and Selective Service and Training ActTraining Act•Passed in Sept. 1940Passed in Sept. 1940•First peace time First peace time conscriptionconscription

–G.I.sG.I.s•Aptitude tests and physical Aptitude tests and physical examsexams•Low supplies for trainingLow supplies for training

–Segregated militarySegregated military•Many didnMany didn’’t want to fightt want to fight•Often given service jobsOften given service jobs

–WomenWomen•WomenWomen’’s Army Corps s Army Corps (WAC)(WAC)–Est. 1942Est. 1942–Over 150,000 servedOver 150,000 served

•68,000 nurses served68,000 nurses served

The Home FrontThe Home Front•WomenWomen–4 million clerical jobs4 million clerical jobs–2.5 million factory jobs2.5 million factory jobs–““Rosie the RiveterRosie the Riveter”” posters posters called for hiring womencalled for hiring women

•MinoritiesMinorities–Great Migration resumesGreat Migration resumes–African Americans demand African Americans demand workwork•Exec. Order 8802, 1941—Exec. Order 8802, 1941—no discriminationno discrimination

–200,000 Mexicans migrated 200,000 Mexicans migrated to help farmers in the SWto help farmers in the SW

•Daily LifeDaily Life–RationingRationing•FoodFood•Gas and rubberGas and rubber•Coupon BooksCoupon Books

–Victory GardensVictory Gardens•Pushed by propagandaPushed by propaganda•Made anywhere possibleMade anywhere possible

•Scrap DrivesScrap Drives–Collection of spare rubber Collection of spare rubber and metaland metal

–Donations of pots, tires, Donations of pots, tires, bumpers, broken radiators, bumpers, broken radiators, rusted bikes, etc.rusted bikes, etc.

–Set up fat collecting stationsSet up fat collecting stations•Paying for WarPaying for War–Spent $300 billionSpent $300 billion–Raised taxesRaised taxes–War BondsWar Bonds

PropagandaPropaganda

•War PostersWar Posters•NewsreelsNewsreels•PamphletsPamphlets

Japanese Japanese InternmentInternment

•Japanese attack spurred Japanese attack spurred hatred towards Japanese-hatred towards Japanese-AmericanAmerican

•1942 – Mass evacuation of 1942 – Mass evacuation of Japanese from HawaiiJapanese from Hawaii

Japanese Japanese InternmentInternment

•1942 – Japanese in California, 1942 – Japanese in California, Oregon, Washington & Arizona Oregon, Washington & Arizona sent to “relocation centers” sent to “relocation centers” inlandinland

•Over 100,000 sentOver 100,000 sent

Korematsu v. United Korematsu v. United States (1944)States (1944)

Is Executive Order 9066 constitutional?Is Executive Order 9066 constitutional?

Supreme Court rules that the relocation of Japanese-Americans to internment camps is

constitutional because it is a “military necessity.”