Transcript Ch. 13 Sec. 4 & Ch. 14 Sec. 4 Mobilizing the US

Mobilizing the
U.S. for War
Chapter 13 Sec. 4 and Chapter 14
Sec. 4
Key Areas to Mobilize for War
• The Military
• Industries &
Science
• Public Citizens
Mobilizing the Armed Forces
Finding Soldiers
• The government
expanded the
draft, which had
been reinstated
in 1940.
• Millions of young
men
volunteered.
• Some 16 million
Americans
entered the
armed forces.
Women
• 10,000 joined
the WAVES, a
navy program.
• 1,000 joined the
WASPs, an air
force program.
• 150,000 served
in the WAC, an
army program.
Military Bases
• Most bases were
built in rural
areas.
• The military bases
transformed parts
of the United
States.
• California, Florida,
and Texas became
home to large
numbers of
soldiers.
The money
poured into
defense
spending
finally ended
the Great
Depression.
American
workers could
once again find
jobs.
In 1944, American production levels were double those
of all the Axis nations combined.
This “production miracle” gave the Allies a crucial
advantage.
FDR’s Production Goals
• 60,000 new planes in 1942, 125,000 new
planes in 1943
• 120,000 tanks from 1942-1943
• All goals were met
• Men like Henry Ford used their factories for
such production
The Manhattan Project
• Scientific program to
build an atomic bomb
• Started in 1939 in Los
Alamos, New Mexico
• Led by physicist J.
Robert Oppenheimer
The war
effort had a
huge effect
on the
economy.
• The national debt
skyrocketed.
• Taxes increased.
• Wages and prices
were controlled.
• Government agencies
regulated what
factories built, what
prices they could
charge, and how raw
materials would be
used.
As industries
cranked out
military goods,
consumer goods
became scarce.
Americans made many sacrifices, looking
toward victory.
Americans were
urged to do all
they could to
support the war
effort, and they
responded to
the call.
• Shopped with
ration books
• Bought war bonds
• Planted victory gardens
• Collected scrap metal
and other materials
Sacrifice and Struggle for Americans at Home
Conserving
Food
and other
Goods
Investing
in
Victory
Paying the
Personal
Price
•
Americans planted victory gardens.
•
The United States began rationing food items such as
coffee, butter, sugar, and meat.
•
Metal, glass, rubber, and gasoline were scarce goods.
•
Americans held scrap drives to collect waste materials
that might be used in the war effort.
•
Americans bought millions of dollars worth of war
bonds.
•
Over half of the population did their civic duty and
bought war bonds.
•
Families dealt with the absence of loved ones by
displaying a flag with a blue star.
•
Americans read news accounts of the war with great
interest
American Support for the War
The Office of War Information- spread propaganda.
Examples included posters encouraging people to join the
armed forces or to save gasoline. The OWI also warned the
public about the dangers they faced.
Hollywood made a series of patriotic films that featured soldiers
and workers on the home front.
What is Propaganda?
• Different forms of communication used to
persuade a group of people towards the
support of one belief or another
• Usually bias or misleading towards a certain
way
Victory Gardens are Back!
Create Your Own Propaganda
Poster
• In your groups, create a propaganda poster for
World War II
• Poster should have some sort of slogan
• Either make the poster factual, or have it
implying something