The United States at War
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The United States at War. Focus Question:. What would the United States have to do to prepare for this?. Focus Question:. What would the United States have to do to prepare for this?. Pearl Harbor. Japanese attack brings U.S. into the war U.S. sets strategy in motion
The United States at War
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Presentation Transcript
Focus Question: • What would the United States have to do to prepare for this?
Focus Question: • What would the United States have to do to prepare for this?
Pearl Harbor • Japanese attack brings U.S. into the war • U.S. sets strategy in motion • Initial outrage against Japan • Determined to defeat Germany first
The Home Front • World War II was a Total War • Entire American society was directed toward the war effort • No one did not take part in the war effort
Economy • Economic activity took on a wartime footing • Massive military contracts sent production soaring • Lifted U.S. from the Depression • Directed by the War Production Board • Production of nonessential items were halted • Large-scale rationing of commodities • Some companies fought to have their products listed as ’essential’ • The U.S. produced much of the war materiel used by the Allies
Inflation Curbs • Office of Price Administration created to prevent runaway inflation • Less consumer goods could equal higher prices • To keep morale up, prices capped • With full employment concern rose over higher wages • War Labor Board set caps on wages • Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Act limited ability of workers to strike
Finance • World War II cost the U.S. an estimate • $341 billion • ($4.137 trillion in today’s figures) • How do you finance this? • Taxation • War Bonds (135 billion sold in total)
Morale • Need to keep up morale at home • Sponsored numerous activities • Victory Gardens • Meatless and Wheat-less days • Scrap Drives • Civil Defense Drills
Societal Shifts Full Employment and Military Demands opened new opportunities • African-Americans brought into numerous industrial jobs • Braceroprogram opened opportunities for Mexican-Americans • Five million women entered the industrial workplace