The United States in WW2:Mobilizing for Defense

Chapter 17, Section 1 Notes

Objectives:

• Explain how the US expanded its armed forces in WW2

• Describe the wartime mobilization of industry, labor, scientists, and the media

• Trace the efforts of the US govt. to control the economy and deal with subversion

Americans Join the War Effort

• After Pearl Harbor, Americans jammed recruiting offices• Remember Pearl Harbor!• 5 million volunteers

• Selective Service System• Expanded the draft• 10 million more soldiers to meet demand• Eight weeks of training

Expanding the Military

• Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC)• Created by Army Chief of Staff General

George Marshall• Women volunteers serve in non-combat

positions

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

• 350,000 women served

Diversity in the Armed Forces

• Despite racial tension, minorities made dramatic contributions to the armed forces• Mexican-Americans, African-Americans,

Asian-Americans, and Native Americans

• 1 million African Americans served• Served in segregated units and limited to

noncombat roles until 1943

A Production Miracle

• Automobile plants were retooled to produce tanks, planes, boats, and command cars.• End of private automobile production

• Factories were quickly converted to war production

• Production occurred at record breaking speeds

• Henry Kaiser produced Liberty ships in 40 days• Using “prefab” parts

The Building of Liberty Ships

Labor’s Contribution

• Despite the draft, nearly 18 million workers were laboring in war industries

• 6 million of these workers were women• Earned less and could operate machines

• “Rosie the Riveter” campaign• Encourage women to join workforce

Labor’s Contribution

• Defense plants also hired minorities• Faced strong prejudice at first

• African-American Labor Leader A. Philip Randolph proposed a march on Washington to fight discrimination

• FDR issued an executive order calling on employers to hire without discrimination

Mobilization of Scientists

• FDR created the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)• To bring scientists into the war effort

• Improvements in radar and sonar• Miracle Drugs like penicillin• Secret development of the atomic bomb

• The Manhattan Project – code name

Economic Controls

• FDR created the Office of Price Admin.• Fought inflation by freezing prices

• Raised the income tax• Up to 88% in the highest bracket!

• War Production Board• Convert industries• Allocated raw materials• Organized drives to collect scrap iron, tin

cans, and paper to recycle into war goods

Rationing

• Rationing – establishing fixed allotments of goods deemed essential for the military

• Homes received ration books with coupons to buy goods• Meat, shoes, sugar, coffee, and gas

• Americans accepted rationing as their personal contribution to the war effort• Workers carpooled or rode bicycles

Check For Understanding

Preparation for War,1941-1942