Transcript Topic 6b * World War II @ Home

Topic 6b – World War II at
Home
Objective: Explain how World War II affected the American people at home.
Relevance: This lesson will help you learn how the U.S. government acts during a time of
war, the expectations and actions of the American people during war and how these
actions contribute to success in the conflict while also contributing problems at home.
Building the Military
• 1941 – 3.5 million military personnel
• 1945 – 8 million military personnel
• “unified” the nation to progress
toward a common goal
• Still racism and segregation, even in the
military but overall progress was made
in this area as many ethnicities work
with one another.
• Because Americans rallied against
Hitler, and the fascism/dictatorship he
presented.
Objective: Explain how World War II
affected the American people at home.
Minority Military
contributions
• African Americans
• Tuskegee Airmen
• “Double V”
• Japanese Americans
• Allowed 2nd generations to fight out
of internment.
• Most decorated in US military
history.
• Mexican Americans
• 300,000 served
• 17 Congressional Medal of Honor
Objective: Explain how World War II
affected the American people at home.
American Economy
• RECOVERED!
• 19 million new jobs (mostly war
production)
• Unemployment around 1%
• Gov. asks business to build
weapons to win the war. Business
complies.
• Gov. guaranteed to pay for costs
of war plus guaranteed profit
under the Cost-Plus plan.
Objective: Explain how World War II
affected the American people at home.
• Ford Motor Company
• Produces tanks, aircraft, rifles, helmets,
artillery, Jeep’s.
• Reconstruction Finance Corporation
lent money to business to produce
weapons
• War Production Board-convert factories
for wartime needs
Life on the Homefront
• Daily Life
• Rationing
• Limiting the purchase of, many
products to ensure enough were
available for military use
• Victory Gardens
• Growing food at home to save mass
produced food for troops
• Office of War Information
• Hollywood used to create news
segments and propaganda to
encourage support for the war.
Objective: Explain how World War II
affected the American people at home.
Life on the Homefront
• Labor shortages due to the war.
• Women and minorities are hired to fill in
the gaps.
• Women work in the military
• Clerics, nurses, administrative roles
• Women work in the factories
• Took husbands jobs while fighting.
• Voluntarily worked to support their family
through the end of the Depression
• 18.8 million women working
• Developed a sense of independence
and self-reliance.  Leads to future
women’s movements in America.
Objective: Explain how World War II
affected the American people at home.
Life on the Homefront
• African-Americans
• Demanded jobs and integration into
the military.
• Fair Employment Practices
Commission – ensured the prevention
of workplace discrimination.
• Race riots in Detroit, 1943
• Mexican-Americans
• Bracero Program
• Gov. pays laborers to farm in the
Southwest.
• Zoot-suit Riots
• Fighting between Mexican-Americans
and Los Angeles soldiers.
Objective: Explain how World War II
affected the American people at home.
Life on the Homefront
• Japanese-Americans
• Executive Order 9066
• Forcibly interned at various camps
across America.
• Seen as a threat to the country.
• “Potential spies”
• Korematsu v. United States, 1944
• Toyosaburo Korematsu wouldn’t leave
San Leandro, CA
• Was being forced into an internment
camp.
• Sued for his right to stay.
Objective: Explain how World War II
affected the American people at home.
• “In their decision, the majority of the
Supreme Court, found that, although
exclusion orders based on race are
constitutionally suspect, the
government is justified in time of
‘emergency and peril’ to suspend
citizens’ civil rights.”