Mobilizing for Defense

Ch 25 Sect 1

Pg 768

Americans Join the War Effort

After Pearl Harbor, young Americans were eager to join the military.

Selective Service System expanded the draft and drafted 10 million more men.

Minorities Join the War Effort

Women George Marshall pushed for the formation of

Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps Women served in non combat positions. Gave an official status to women & a salary Nurses, drivers, pilots

African Americans Questioned whether it was their war to fight. 1 million joined the military Lived & worked in segregated units. Non combat positions

Industrial Response

Nation’s industry retooled to produce tanks, planes, boats, & ammunition.

Industries hired more than 2 million minority workers during the war.

Faced prejudices Protests

A. Phillip Randolph – organized a march on Washington.

Called on African Americans everywhere to come to the capital to protest the right of African Americans to work & fight in the U.S.

Mobilization of Scientists

U.S. created the office of Scientific Research and Development

Improvements in radar technology & pesticides to fight insects.

“miracle drugs” – penicillin Secret development of the atomic bomb In 1942 an intensive program was set up to

make a bomb as quickly as possible. Manhattan Project – code name for the

atomic bomb development

Economic Controls

Office of Price AdministrationFought inflation by freezing pricesRaised income taxEncouraged Americans to use extra money to

buy war bonds.War Production Board

Responsible for ensuring the military had needed supplies.

Converted peacetime factories to wartime production.

Rationing

Rationing – establishing fixed allotments of goods needed for the military.

Households received ration books w/ coupons to be used for buying certain goods.

Americans accepted rationing as a personal contribution to the war effort.

Answer these questions

1. What was the Selective Service System and how did it help the United States meet manpower needs?

2. What contributions did women and minorities make to the military effort?

3. How did American industry contribute to the war effort?

4. How did the war create new job opportunities for women and minorities?

5. How did scientists help the war effort?

6. How did the mass media contribute to the war effort?

7. How did the Federal government act to control the economy?

8. How did government actions affect everyday life?