America Moves Toward War: Part II

1. America Moves Toward War: Part II

2. Do Now! We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world. The third freedom from want… everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear… anywhere in the world. -Who is the speaker of this quote? -What is this quote in reference to?

3. Americans Join the War Effort • After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the Japan Times newspaper said America was “trembling in their shoes” • But if America was trembling, it was with rage, not fear • “Remember Pearl Harbor” was the rallying cry as America entered WWII

4. Selective Service and the G.I. • After Pearl Harbor five million Americans enlisted to fight in the war • The Selective Service expanded the draft and eventually provided an additional 10 million soldiers • Basic training lasted 8 weeks

5. Expanding the Military: Women • Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall pushed for the formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) • Under this program women worked in non-combat roles such as nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, and pilots

6. Recruiting and Discrimination • Despite discrimination at home, minority populations contributed to the war effort • 1,000,000 African Americans served in the military • 300,000 Mexican-Americans • 33,000 Japanese Americans • 25,000 Native Americans • 13,000 Chinese Americans These “Golden 13” Great Lakes officers scored the highest marks ever on the Officers exam in 1944

7. A Production Miracle • Americans converted their auto industry into a war industry • The nation’s automobile plants began to produce tanks, planes, boats, and command cars • Many other industries also converted to war-related supplies

8. Labor's Contribution • By 1944, nearly 18 million workers were laboring in war industries (3x the # in 1941) • More than 6 million of these were women • Earned less than what men earned • Employers could not hire enough women when they realized that women could do the same work as men • Nearly 2 million were minorities • A. Philip Randolph • Executive Order 8802

9. Hollywood Helps Mobilization • The following is a few films that were created to inspire U.S. involvement: • The Ramparts We Watched & Baptism of Fire (1940) • Why We Fight (1942 -) • Hitler, Beast of Berlin (1939) • Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) • Most Important: Although these films portrayed Nazis in a negative light, the films made during the Second World War did NOT address the Holocaust, nor did they portray Jews

10. Mobilization of Scientists • In 1941, FDR created the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) to bring scientists into the war effort • Focus was on radar and sonar to locate submarines • Also the scientists worked on penicillin and pesticides like DDT • The Manhattan Project

11. Federal Gov't Takes Control: Inflation • With prices of goods threatening to rise out of control, FDR responded by creating the Office of Price Administration (OPA) • The OPA froze prices on most goods and encouraged the purchase of war bonds to fight inflation Be sure to Review the Chart on Pg. 773

12. War Production Board • To ensure the troops had ample resources, FDR created the WPB • The WPB decided which companies would convert to wartime production and how to best allocate raw materials to those industries

13. Collection Drives • The WPB also organized nationwide drives to collect scrap iron, tin cans, paper, rags and cooking fat for recycling • Additionally, the OPA set up a system of rationing • Households had set allocations of scarce goods – gas, meat, shoes, sugar, coffee

15. The Pin-Ups! Betty Grable – An All American Girl! - #1 selling Pin-Up in America Rita Hayworth - #2 selling Pin-Up in America

20. Exit Question • Has U.S. mobilization for war evolved? If yes, in what ways? If no, how has it remained the same? Explain your answer.