The War Production Board The War Production Board (WPB)(WPB)

• Director Director James F. ByrnesJames F. Byrnes• Banned using materials at Banned using materials at

home that were needed for home that were needed for the war by our military: the war by our military: “critical, essential, or “critical, essential, or strategic.”strategic.”

• Copper, tobacco, chewing Copper, tobacco, chewing gum, coca-colagum, coca-cola

• Loans and grants for plant Loans and grants for plant conversionconversion

• Tax breaks for productionTax breaks for production• American Bantam, Butler PA American Bantam, Butler PA

builds first jeepbuilds first jeep• Rosie the Riveter Rosie the Riveter (song)(song)

Songs in History: Rosie the RiveterSongs in History: Rosie the Riveter

All the day long, Whether rain or shine,

She's a part of the assembly line.She's a part of the assembly line. She's making history,She's making history,

Working for victory,Working for victory, Rosie the Riveter.Rosie the Riveter.

Keeps a sharp lookout for sabotage,Keeps a sharp lookout for sabotage,

Sitting up there on the fuselage.Sitting up there on the fuselage.

That little girl can do more than a man can do.That little girl can do more than a man can do.

Rosie's got a boyfriend, Charlie.Rosie's got a boyfriend, Charlie.

Charlie, he's a Marine.Charlie, he's a Marine. Rosie is protecting Charlie,Rosie is protecting Charlie,

Working overtime on the riveting machineWorking overtime on the riveting machine

When they gave her a production "E",When they gave her a production "E", She was as proud as a girl could be,She was as proud as a girl could be,

There's something true about,There's something true about,

Red, white, and blue about,Red, white, and blue about, Rosie the Riveter.Rosie the Riveter.

MMMM

Rosie video clip

Rationing: Rationing: Click for Ken Burns clip on rationingClick for Ken Burns clip on rationing

The Home FrontThe Home Front

• 1941 FDR created the1941 FDR created the Office of Office of Civilian Defense (OCD)Civilian Defense (OCD)

• Pearl Harbor convinced people to Pearl Harbor convinced people to treat Civilian Defense more treat Civilian Defense more seriously.seriously.

• States and communities formed States and communities formed their own councils.their own councils.

• Women and students volunteered as Women and students volunteered as plane spotters.plane spotters.

• Towns conducted black out drills. Towns conducted black out drills. “Get those lights out!”“Get those lights out!”

• People were encouraged to report People were encouraged to report anything suspicious.anything suspicious.

• German American saboteurs were German American saboteurs were arrested on Long Island with large arrested on Long Island with large amounts of explosives and plans to amounts of explosives and plans to railroads, bridges, and factories.railroads, bridges, and factories.

War BondsWar Bonds

• Radio announcer sign off: Radio announcer sign off: “Bye, “Bye, Bye, Buy Bonds.”Bye, Buy Bonds.”

• Students bought 10-cent and 25-Students bought 10-cent and 25-cent stamps to fill in a book to be cent stamps to fill in a book to be traded in for a $25 dollar bond.traded in for a $25 dollar bond.

• Sold $135 Billion, Sold $135 Billion, not nearly enough.not nearly enough.• Scrap drives: rubber, aluminum, tin Scrap drives: rubber, aluminum, tin

cans, blood, etccans, blood, etc• Conservation drives: Conservation drives: “Use it up, “Use it up,

wear it out, make it do or do wear it out, make it do or do without.”without.”

• Drive slower and save rubber tires.Drive slower and save rubber tires.• ““V-mail” V-mail” tissue thin paper to save tissue thin paper to save

space on cargo ships and planes.space on cargo ships and planes.• People felt like they were part of the People felt like they were part of the

war effort.war effort.

•Even a song: Even a song: Bonds TodayBonds Today

Sacrificing for the TroopsSacrificing for the Troops

Songs in HistorySongs in HistoryAny Bonds Today?Any Bonds Today? : :

Any bonds today?Bonds of freedomAny bonds today?Bonds of freedomThat's what I'm selling Any bonds today?That's what I'm selling Any bonds today?Scrape up the most you canScrape up the most you canHere comes the freedom manHere comes the freedom manAsking you to buy a share of freedom todayAsking you to buy a share of freedom todayAny stamps today? We'll be blest,If we all investAny stamps today? We'll be blest,If we all investIn the U.S.A. Here comes the freedom manIn the U.S.A. Here comes the freedom manCan't make tomorrow's planCan't make tomorrow's planNot unless you buy a share of freedom todayNot unless you buy a share of freedom todayThe tall man with the high hat and the whiskers on his chinThe tall man with the high hat and the whiskers on his chinWill soon be knocking at your door and you ought to be inWill soon be knocking at your door and you ought to be inThe tall man with the high hat will be coming down your wayThe tall man with the high hat will be coming down your wayGet your savings out when you hear him shout "Any bonds today?“Get your savings out when you hear him shout "Any bonds today?“Any bonds today? All you give, Will be spent to live In the Yankee way.Any bonds today? All you give, Will be spent to live In the Yankee way.Scrape up the most you can, Here comes the freedom manScrape up the most you can, Here comes the freedom manAsking you to buy a share of freedom today! Asking you to buy a share of freedom today!