Transcript Theaters of Fighting

1929-1945
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The involvement of the United States in
WWII, while opposed by most Americans
prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, vaulted
the United States into global political and
military prominence and transformed both
American society and the relationship
between the United States and the rest of the
world.
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Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7, 1941)
 2,400 died in less than 2
hours
 High government officials
knew of the attack because
they had broken the
Japanese codes. However,
they did not know the exact
date or target and thought
it would be in Southeast
Asia.
 Declaration of War the next
day
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The mass mobilization of American society to
supply troops for the war effort and a
workforce on the home front ended the Great
Depression
It also provided opportunities for women and
minorities to improve their socioeconomic
positions
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Industrial Production
 War Production Board, Office
of War Mobilization
 Government contracts
 Office of Price Administration
(OPA)
 Unions – Smith-Connelly
Anti-Strike Act
 Financing the War
▪ Income tax & bonds
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African-Americans
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Mexican-Americans
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Race riots in Detroit and NYC
“Double V” campaign –
NAACP membership rises
Congress of Racial Equality
Worked in defense industries
Served in the military
Braceros
Zoot suit riots
Navajos used as “code talkers”
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Women
 5 million enter the
workforce
 Serve in wartime
industries
 200,000 in military
noncombat roles
 “Rosie the Riveter”
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Japanese-Americans
 Suspected of being potential spies
 FDR established internment camps
 Nisei regiments in the U.S. Army
 Korematsu vs. U.S.
 1988 – Federal gov’t offered apology and
compensation
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Fighting Japan
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After Pearl Harbor Japan takes over much of East and
Southeast Asia
The Pacific Front operations are based in Los Angeles
The Battle of Midway is the turning point
Island-hopping
How do Kamikaze pilots, and the battles for Okinawa
and Iwo Jima foreshadow the necessity of the Abomb?
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Atomic Bombs
 Manhattan Project
 Alamogordo, New Mexico
 Harry S. Truman calls on Japan
to surrender unconditionally or
face “utter destruction”
 Hiroshima, Aug 6th and
Nagasaki, Aug 9th 1945
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Japan Surrenders
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North Africa and Italy
FDR decided to help Britain defeat Germany
and Italy on this front before opening the
Western front
Battle of El Alamein (led by Patton) protected
the Suez Canal from capture

Western Europe
The liberation of France began with D-Day,
June 6, 1944
Germany surrendered in May, 1945
(FDR had died in April, 1945)
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Development of Sonar
 SOund Navigation And Ranging
 Collaboration between American and British
engineers led to creation of RADAR
 DDT developed and used in the Pacific
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Manhattan Project: Long-Term Impacts
 Government maintains strict secrecy
 $2 Billion in taxpayer money spent to make the
most deadly weapon in history
 This initiates the start of “big science” –
government contract for expensive research and
development programs
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The dominant American
role in the Allied victory and
postwar peace settlements,
combined with the warravaged condition of Asia
and Europe, allowed the
United States to emerge
from the war as the most
powerful nation on earth
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The extent of the holocaust
& the international tribunal
for war criminals led to an
increased demand for a
Jewish homeland
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Israel created in 1948
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Conservative politics returned, New Deal
programs were slashed. War mobilization
enormously expanded government power,
especially the power of the executive branch.
As never before the federal government
managed the economy, molded public
opinion, funded scientific research, and
influenced people’s daily lives.