Mobilizing for DefenseMobilizing for Defense

The United States in World The United States in World War II #1War II #1

I. Americans Join the War EffortI. Americans Join the War Effort

A. Expanding the militaryA. Expanding the military• 1. Army Chief of Staff George Marshall 1. Army Chief of Staff George Marshall

introduced the Women’s Auxiliary Army introduced the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC).Corps (WAAC).

• 2. Women would serve in non-combat 2. Women would serve in non-combat positions.positions.

• 3. Nurses, ambulance drivers, radio 3. Nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, electricians, and pilots.operators, electricians, and pilots.

B. Other volunteersB. Other volunteers• 1. 300,000 Mexican Americans joined the war.1. 300,000 Mexican Americans joined the war.• 2. 13,000 Chinese Americans, 33,000 2. 13,000 Chinese Americans, 33,000

Japanese Americans, and 25,000 Native Japanese Americans, and 25,000 Native Americans.Americans.

• 3. The Japanese served as spies and 3. The Japanese served as spies and interpreters and the Navajo language became interpreters and the Navajo language became an unbreakable U.S. code.an unbreakable U.S. code.

• 4. Many African-Americans joined the war 4. Many African-Americans joined the war effort as well, but did not see action until the effort as well, but did not see action until the final year of the war due to widespread racism.final year of the war due to widespread racism.

II. A Production MiracleII. A Production Miracle

A. The Industrial ResponseA. The Industrial Response• 1. Shipyards and defense plants expanded 1. Shipyards and defense plants expanded

with incredible speed.with incredible speed.• 2. 6 million new workers were women. (Rosie 2. 6 million new workers were women. (Rosie

the Riveter)the Riveter)• 3. Automobile factories started to produce 3. Automobile factories started to produce

tanks and planes.tanks and planes.• 4. Ships were being built in a record 4 days4. Ships were being built in a record 4 days• 5. However, women only earned as much as 5. However, women only earned as much as

60% of men and Blacks were often not allowed 60% of men and Blacks were often not allowed to hold certain jobs.to hold certain jobs.

6. A. Phillip Randolph, the nations 6. A. Phillip Randolph, the nations most respected Black labor leader most respected Black labor leader promised to lead 100,000 Black promised to lead 100,000 Black protesters to Washington if FDR did protesters to Washington if FDR did do something to ensure their rights do something to ensure their rights in the workplace.in the workplace.

““To provide for the To provide for the full and equitable full and equitable participation of all participation of all workers in defense workers in defense industries, without industries, without discrimination discrimination because of racism, because of racism, creed, color, and or creed, color, and or national origin.”national origin.”

B. Mobilization of ScientistsB. Mobilization of Scientists• 1. Office of Scientific Research and 1. Office of Scientific Research and

Development (OSRD).Development (OSRD).• 2. The Manhattan Project was the 2. The Manhattan Project was the

secret project to develop the atomic secret project to develop the atomic bomb before the Nazis did.bomb before the Nazis did.

III. The Federal Government Takes III. The Federal Government Takes ControlControl

A. Economic ControlsA. Economic Controls• 1. The Office of Price Administration (OPA) was 1. The Office of Price Administration (OPA) was

designed to fight inflation by freezing the designed to fight inflation by freezing the prices on most goods.prices on most goods.

• 2. The War Production Board (WPB) ensured 2. The War Production Board (WPB) ensured that the armed forces and war industries that the armed forces and war industries received the resources they needed to win the received the resources they needed to win the war.war.

• 3. The OPA also set up a system of rationing 3. The OPA also set up a system of rationing which is the establishment the fixed alloments which is the establishment the fixed alloments of goods deemd essential for the military.of goods deemd essential for the military.