Objective: To examine the U.S. mobilization for war

The War at Home

Ch. 17-1

Selective Service Act

• During World War II, 10 million men were drafted, and another 6 million men and women enlisted.– 12% of U.S. population served in WWII.– More than 15 million men and 350,000 women served

in U.S. armed forces– 18 % of U.S. families had a family member enlisted

• Most Americans felt the draft was operated fairly, giving deferments (exceptions) to some college students, 2 million agricultural workers, & physically or mentally unable to serve

Selective Service Act

• Signed Sept. 14, 1940 – it is the first peacetime draft– Men, ages 21-35, were required to register at

local draft boards– Later ages 18-45 were eligible for service

There was still discrimination in the military…

• Served in separate military units:– African Americans– Japanese Americans

• Served in “white units”:– Hispanics– Native Americans– Chinese Americans– Italian Americans* Racial prejudices and tensions often

decreased as men served with men unlike themselves.

Government Controls the EconomyGovernment Controls the EconomyAgency/ Law What the regulations did

Office of Price Administration (OPA)

-fought inflation by freezing wages, prices and rents

-rationed foods: meat, butter, cheese, vegetables, sugar, coffee

National War Labor Board (NWLB)

-limited wage increases

-allowed negotiated workers benefits

-kept unions stable

War Production Board -rationed: fuel, heating oil, metals, rubber and plastics

Department of the Treasury

-issued war bonds to raise $ for war effort

Revenue Act of 1942 -raised wealthy American’s income tax rate

-added lower/ middle income taxes

Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Act (1943)

-limited workers rights to strike during war

-president had power to control striking plants

RationingRationing: : Consumers were only allowed to purchase a Consumers were only allowed to purchase a fixed amount of particular goods. fixed amount of particular goods. •The OPA issues rationing coupons;The OPA issues rationing coupons;•Consumers faced shortages as a result of the war;

• Ex. gas, sugar, butter, meat• No new cars were produced after 1942.:

Rationing

Rationing Coupons for sugar.

Propaganda• Propaganda – A biased communication

designed to persuade an audience to think or behave in a certain way.– Propaganda is used for a variety of reasons

throughout WWII.

Propaganda is used to encourage rationing…

Paying for the WarPaying for the War

Propaganda is used to encourage people to buy war bonds to pay for the war.

Paying for the WarPaying for the War

Propaganda was used for many reasons…

The wartime demand for goods ended the Great Depression and unemployment fell.

Propaganda often relies on the use of stereotypes;

“The Ducktators”1)Describe how Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo are depicted. What stereotypes are used?

2) What is the purpose of the sign, “We wish to apologize to the nice ducks or geese. . .”? Why was this included?

1)What is the purpose of the cartoon? What should Americans do?

Analyzing Propaganda

Analyzing Propaganda

For each cartoon:1)Describe the scenario – the setting and the premise of the cartoon;2)What message is the cartoon is sending to U.S. troops? How should they change their behavior?

Propaganda was also directed at U.S. troops.

New Roles for Women

←1942: a woman grinds the points on drills, and the drills will be used in the war effort.

Urgent need for women to enter the workforce:1)Aid in the war effort 2)keep the nation’s economy going.· Over 6 million women entered the workforce, replacing men that joined the military and filling the need for factory workers

- Total women in the workforce rose to 35%.

Rosie the Riveter: Symbolized the millions of women that worked in factories producing planes, tanks, ships, and other war goods. - 1/3 of women worked in defense plants; more challenging & better pay.

We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter Artist: J. Howard Miller

- Women enjoyed a newfound confidence in their ability to support their families by working outside of the home and many began to earn salaries equal to men.

All the day long,Whether rain or shine, She's a part of the assembly line. She's making history, Working for victory, Rosie the Riveter. Keeps a sharp lookout for sabotage, Sitting up there on the fuselage. That little girl will do more than a male will do.

Rosie's got a boyfriend, Charlie. Charlie, he's a Marine. Rosie is protecting Charlie, Working overtime on the riveting machine. When they gave her a production "E," She was as proud as she could be. There's something true about, Red, white, and blue about, Rosie the Riveter.

“Rosie the Riveter”Lyrics by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb, 1942

“Rosie the Riveter” Song Analysis-

1. What message does this song send to American women during WWII?

2. What message does this song send to American men during WWII?

3. By writing a song about working women of the war, what is the ultimate point the song is making?

Other Economic Gains

• As the defense industry boomed, unemployment fell to 1.2% by 1944;– Paychecks rose and people began to save for

the future

• The 1940s were also good to farmers– War increased demand for farm products,

which increased prices– Good weather– Better technology– Farm income tripled; farmers pay off debt

Discrimination & Reaction

• Minorities make economic gains during WWII– New jobs available – skilled/semi-skilled– Unemployment decreases– Many serve in the military

• Discrimination persists– Race riots in Detroit (1943)– “Zoot Suit” riots in LA (1943)– Japanese Internment

Zoot Suits

The zoot suit was a style of dress adopted by many Mexican American youths as a symbol of their rebellion against tradition”