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Vocabulary List

Vocabulary List. Ration: a fixed allowance of provisions or food War Bonds: a debt issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war Interment: the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups,

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Vocabulary List

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  1. Vocabulary List • Ration: a fixed allowance of provisions or food • War Bonds: a debt issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war • Interment: the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, • Morale: emotional or mental condition with respect to cheerfulness, confidence • Riveter:A person who installs rivets to fasten an object together.

  2. Rivets

  3. The American Home Front December 7, 1941 - 1945

  4. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” • After the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt read his famous speech to Congress and the U.S. declared war on Japan. • This led Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S. • World War II was now at America’s shores. (so much for neutrality).

  5. Executive Order 9066 • In the U.S., Americans were afraid that Japan was targeting the west coast. • Tanks and soldiers were sent to watch and protect coasts.. • In reality, the U.S. could do little to defend itself at this time.

  6. Misfortune on the Home Front • Off the East coast, Germany was sinking our merchant ships with its submarines. • Germany believed that the U.S. was assisting Great Britain and France. • The U.S. was losing battles in Asia.

  7. Enlistment and Patriotism • The American military was not prepared for an all out war. • It only had 300,000 men. • The U.S. calls on American men to enlist. • The American people respond. • In fact the Government is overwhelmed by the number that decide to join.

  8. ALL AMERICANS FOUGHT Despite discrimination at home, minority populations contributed to the war effort: • 1,000,000 African Americans • 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

  9. Contributions • The Americans were asked by the government to ration everything. • The government also sold war bonds (borrowed money from its own people to help with the war). • They needed money to help the Allies as well as themselves. The U.S. was also not a very rich country and desperately needed money. • The goal was to help Allies while the U.S. prepared.

  10. Rationed Goods • Rationed Items: sugar, coffee, shoes, meats, and cereals. • Farms were producing as much food as possible. • Much of the food went to British and Russian soldiers and citizens as a result of starvation.

  11. COLLECTION DRIVES

  12. Shift in Production • American Industry had to go from peace time production to war time production (which takes a lot of time). • GM, Ford, and Chrysler went from creating cars to tanks. • Boeing from regular airplanes to bombers and fighter jets. • Gun makers like Colt, from hunting rifles to machine guns, flamethrowers, war rifles.

  13. War Production • In full war mode, the U.S. was producing weapons faster than anybody around thought that it would or could. • In one month, the U.S. was able to produce up to 4,000 tanks and 4,500 planes. • Ship production also increased dramatically to help protect our coasts.

  14. LABOR’S CONTRIBUTION • By 1944, nearly 18 million workers were laboring in war industries (3x the # in 1941) • More than 6 million were women and nearly 2 million were minority.

  15. Unintended Benefit • Women joined the workforce. Before the war, only about 3 million worked in the U.S. • Most were housewives and raised families. • Desperate for workers to produce weapons, women replaced the men that went to war.

  16. WOMEN MAKE GAINS • Women enjoyed economic gains during the war, although many lost their jobs after the war • Over 6 million women entered the work force for the first time • Over 1/3 were in the defense industry.

  17. Success on the Home Front • The war provided a lift to the U.S. economy • Jobs were abundant and despite rationing and shortages, people had money to spend. • By the end of the war, America was the world’s dominant economic and military power.

  18. ECONOMIC GAINS • Unemploymentfell to only 1.2% by 1944 and wages rose 35% • Farmers benefited as production doubled and their income tripled

  19. POPULATION SHIFTS • The war triggered the greatest mass migration in American history. • More than a million newcomers poured into California between 1941-1944. • African-Americans again shifted from south to north.

  20. G.I. BILL HELPS RETURNING VETS • To help returning servicemen ease back into civilian life, Congress passed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (G.I. Bill of Rights) • The act provided education for 7.8 million vets.

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