Ch. 25 Powerpoint
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“Despite its horrors, WWII did bring an end to the Depression in America. Millions of workers streamed back into the factories to produce airplanes, tanks and guns and to receive a welcome paycheck.”
CH. 25: WWII AT HOME, 19411945
Key Concepts During WWII, the American economy
converted to producing materials for the war. WWII ended the Great Depression as millions joined the wartime labor force and after the U.S. joined the war, the military. The war was paid for with taxes and by government borrowing.
Mobilizing the War Economy As Americans came out of the Depression,
people were eager to buy cars, refrigerators, and washing machines. Government had to convince them to continue to sacrifice for the war effort. The outcome of the war would depend on our
ability to produce war items
May 1943: FDR organizes the Office of War
Mobilization
Conversion of the Auto Industry Feb 10, 1942: Last day of automobile
production Henry Ford built a new factory to produce B24 bombers He wanted to build planes on an assembly line
(had never been done before) Willow Run Plant 975 acres, employed 42,000+ people
New Opportunities for Profit Secretary of War Henry Stimson “You have to let business make money or business
won’t work.” Cost plus system- government paid all development and production costs plus a percentage as profit on anything a company made for the war
New Markets and Methods Robert Woodruff (Coca-Cola) “We will see
that every m an in uniform gets a bottle of Coca-Cola for 5¢ wherever he is and whatever it costs the company.” Civilians at home increased their consumption to
help support to the program
Henry J. Kaiser introduced mass production
techniques to shipbuilding 1941: It took 355 days to build a Liberty Ship 1945: It took only 14 days
Workers, the War and Unions Union membership rose 10.5 million in 1941 to 14.8 million in 1945
Labor and business representatives agreed to
no strikes or lockouts Strikes did occur, but they were not endorsed by
the unions
United Mine Workers called a strike in 1943 Coal prices soared and wages remained the same Secretary of the Interior negotiated an end to the
strike
Financing the War Tax increases paid for 41% of the cost
Revenue Act of 1942 set the income tax rate at 5% U.S. Treasury sold war bonds
Other money was borrowed Deficit spending became a habit after WWII
“While American soldiers crouched in foxholes overseas, friends and families supported their struggle on the home front. Rationing and conserving resources, like gasoline, scrap metal and rubber, drew most of the country into the war effort.”
SEC. 2: DAILY LIFE ON THE HOME FRONT
Key Concepts The mood on the American home front was one of cooperation and determined optimism. American consumers had money in their pockets for the first time in years and they looked for ways to spend it. Shortages of many basic items, such as sugar,
meat and gasoline, plagued the wartime economy. The government sought to maintain morale at home through various public relations campaigns.
Prosperity and Popular Culture Money to burn Cars were not available to buy Book sales increased 62% of the population went to the movies each week
Baseball and Popular Music 4,000 out of 5,700 major and minor league players enlisted in the
military
Teams placed want ads in newspapers to find players 1943: Philip Wrigley began the All-American Girls’ Softball League
Became the All-American Girls’ Baseball League in 1945 Music
Frank Loesser’s “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” “White Christmas”
Shortages and Controls Clothing-no metal and less cloth available Vests, patch pockets and cuffs eliminated from men’s suits 2 piece bathing suits were justified because the military
needed the fabric for uniforms
Food Sugar couldn’t be imported from the Philippines, nor could
coffee from Brazil Meat was sent to the military
1941: FDR created the Office of Price Administration
to stop inflation Rationing begins in 1942
Sugar ,coffee, meat, butter, shoes and gas
Campaigns at Home Government had to create a sense of
patriotism and participation in order to convince the public to conserve resources Scrap metal and other materials were collected for war time production Cooking fats were saved to make powder for
bullets
“Play your part,” “Conserve and collect,” “Use
it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
“During WWII, thousands of American women rolled up their sleeves and went to work in defense plants and shipyards. Adapting quickly to work usually done by men and overcoming a sometimes cold welcome from fellow male employees, they helped satisfy the Allies’ urgent need for military goods.”
SEC. 3: WOMEN AND THE WAR
Key Concepts During WWII, American women of all ages
went to work. Women were successful in their new jobs despite the hardships and discrimination they faced. At the end of the war, women were strongly encouraged to leave their jobs, whether they wanted to or not.
Rosie the Riveter Fictional character used in posters and
propaganda Created by the government to get women to help in the effort
Shifting Patterns of Employment Young single women were already working
The goal was to entice older, married women into the workforce 1941: 14.6 million working women, 1944: 19.4
mill. ¾ of working women were married By the end of the war, ½ of women workers were married
The Wartime Working Experience Working conditions for women of color They faced racial and gender discrimination Through lawsuits and protest African American
women were able to change some of their workplace situations
Benefits of Employment Pay off debts from the Depression Sense of independence
Show their patriotism
Problems for Working Women Hostile reactions from male workers
Work restrictions Child care Responsibilities in the home
Low wages
The Postwar Push to “Demobilize” Women Women were expected to leave their jobs
after the war Men returning from war wanted their jobs back and needed them Some women wanted to go back to domestic work
“For many Americans the war broke down racial barriers in the job market. Japanese Americans, however, fell victim to bitter prejudice at home as the U.S. battled Japan abroad.”
SEC. 4: THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE AT HOME
Key Concepts Events on the home front helped stimulate the movement for equal rights for African Americans. Mexican Americans and Native Americans battled discrimination at home and entered the
work force in greater numbers during the war. A large number of Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps by the U.s. government during the war, while others served courageously in the military.
The Wartime Struggle Against Jim Crow During the 1940s, 2 mill+ African Americas migrated from
the south to the north and west Population was concentrated in urban ghettos When the war began 1 in 5 African Americans was unemployed Black soldiers in Salina, KS were refused service at a lunch counter that served German POWs Military remained segregated Early 1941, A. Philip Randolph threatened a march on Washington June 25th FDR signed Executive Order 8802, which opened jobs in
defense plants to all Americans
1942: Congress on Racial Equality founded in Chicago
Mexican Americans and Braceros During WWII The Bracero Program 1942 shortage of farm workers An agreement between the U.S. and Mexico to provide
transportation, food, shelter and medical care for workers 200,000+ participants When their contracts were over, they were sent back to Mexico
Zoot Suit Riots April and May 1943: Fighting breaks out between sailors and Los
Angeles residents of Mexican descent
Zoot suit consisted of baggy pants and a long jacket
Sailors would threaten and attack “zoot suiters” Early June 1943 fighting was widespread Zoot suiters were usually arrested, sailors were not Military officials restricted sailors’ leave time
Native Americans and the War at Home 50,000+ worked in war industries
Native Americans who had worked in defense plants or served overseas were not as likely to return to reservations
The Japanese American Internment 1/10 of the American population
2/3 of them were American born citizens Others feared sabotage and spying Feb. 19, 1942: FDR signs Executive Order 9066 Secretary of War established military zones and
removed Americans of Japanese ancestry from them 110,000 sent to internment camps Relocations happened very quickly Most lost everything they owned
Cont’d All camps were located in remote areas They had wooden barracks covered with tar paper, surrounded by
barbed wire fences and armed guards
17,000 Japanese Americans served in the military 1,200 volunteered from internment camps
442nd Regimental Combat Team won more medals for
bravery than any other in U.S. history 4 cases against relocation were sent ot he Supreme Court All 4 were decided in favor of the government
Internees were released in early 1945 Many had been left homeless
1988: Pres. Ronald Reagan signs a law awarding $20,000 to
each surviving internee
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