Home Front Notes

World War 2World War 2

Federal Government Takes Control of Economy:

How to Pay for War?

• Tax System overhauled • Revenue Act of 1942

• Brackets on wealthiest went up to 90%• Additional brackets for lower and middle

income levels• 50 million people eligible to pay• Withholding system implemented

• Meaning?• Comprised approximately 41% of war

funds

• Tax System overhauled • Revenue Act of 1942

• Brackets on wealthiest went up to 90%• Additional brackets for lower and middle

income levels• 50 million people eligible to pay• Withholding system implemented

• Meaning?• Comprised approximately 41% of war

funds

Government Reminders

Department of Treasury

• Issued war bonds to raise money for the war effort and to fight inflation• a.k.a. liberty bonds

• 8 major drives lasting 4-7 weeks

• Celebrities used in fund raising campaigns

• Issued war bonds to raise money for the war effort and to fight inflation• a.k.a. liberty bonds

• 8 major drives lasting 4-7 weeks

• Celebrities used in fund raising campaigns

Hollywood Goes to War

Liberty Bonds

• Payroll savings plan allowed you to have money deducted from pay check and converted in bonds

• Comprised approximately 33% of war funds

• Payroll savings plan allowed you to have money deducted from pay check and converted in bonds

• Comprised approximately 33% of war funds

Government Reminders

Deficit Spending

• Must spend money we don’t have• National debt takes off from $42

billion to $279 billion• Comprised approximately 25% of

war funds

• Must spend money we don’t have• National debt takes off from $42

billion to $279 billion• Comprised approximately 25% of

war funds

Office of Price Administration(O.P.A.)

• Fought inflation by freezing wages, and prices

• Set ceiling prices: maximum that can be charged on rent

• Rationed foods such as meats, butter, cheese, vegetables, sugar and coffee

• Fought inflation by freezing wages, and prices

• Set ceiling prices: maximum that can be charged on rent

• Rationed foods such as meats, butter, cheese, vegetables, sugar and coffee

''Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do and Do Without."

Rationing Books

• Issued to all Americans• Could only purchase rationed items

with stamps and cash

• Issued to all Americans• Could only purchase rationed items

with stamps and cash

Educating on Rationing Books

What Could You Get?

• Based on point system• Blue Stamps: canned foods (48pts mo.)

• Red Stamps: meat, fish, dairy (64 pts mo.)• 2 lbs. Fruit/vegetables per person/month• 1.5 lbs Meat per person/month• 4 oz. Cheese per person/month

• Based on point system• Blue Stamps: canned foods (48pts mo.)

• Red Stamps: meat, fish, dairy (64 pts mo.)• 2 lbs. Fruit/vegetables per person/month• 1.5 lbs Meat per person/month• 4 oz. Cheese per person/month

Was it Effective?

• Still, some people chose to hoard items and/or sell items/stamps illegally

• This was viewed as unpatriotic• Overall…Yes

• Still, some people chose to hoard items and/or sell items/stamps illegally

• This was viewed as unpatriotic• Overall…Yes

Fuel Rationing

• Gas was determined by the sticker • Most people received “A” 3gallons/wk• Vital services received “C” unlimited

• Gas was determined by the sticker • Most people received “A” 3gallons/wk• Vital services received “C” unlimited

Cut Down on Trips

Speed Reduction

Ordinary Citizens Pitching In

War Production Board (W.P.B.)

• Rationed fuel and materials vital to the war effort such as: gasoline, heating oil, metal, rubber, and plastics

• Oversaw conversion of factories from consumer to war production

• Encouraged use of women and Blacks• e.g. car factory=>tank factory

       fridge makers=>munitions (bombs/bullets)

• Rationed fuel and materials vital to the war effort such as: gasoline, heating oil, metal, rubber, and plastics

• Oversaw conversion of factories from consumer to war production

• Encouraged use of women and Blacks• e.g. car factory=>tank factory

       fridge makers=>munitions (bombs/bullets)

Ford’s Conversion in Ypsilanti

• Produced 1 per hour at their peak

Rosie the Riveter

• Women filled jobs in factories• 38% of labor force by 1945

• Women filled jobs in factories• 38% of labor force by 1945

What problems did women face entering the workforce? (Swing Shift clips)

Propaganda

• Government endorsed effort to deliberately manipulate your thoughts and actions

• Why are cartoons widely used?

• Government endorsed effort to deliberately manipulate your thoughts and actions

• Why are cartoons widely used?

Private SNAFU-Rumors

Private SNAFU-Spies

Popeye-Spinach for Britain

Ducktators Cartoon