The US mobilized for WWII on an unprecedented scale, transforming the economy and society. The government took on expanded roles, controlling wages, prices and production to support the war effort. Unemployment dropped from 14% to 2% as millions of Americans, including many women and minorities, went to work in newly-expanded industries producing vast quantities of military equipment. Over 40 million men were drafted, though the military remained segregated and discrimination persisted at home, including the internment of Japanese Americans. Despite shortages, most Americans embraced sacrifices to support the war through rationing, scrap drives, and buying war bonds.

1. Chapter 20 Sec. 1
Mobilizing for War
The War dramatically changed American
society—the country was different-WWII
strengthened the Federal Gov.-more gov.
interventions-it ended the Great Depression.
“The industrial output of the US during the war
astounded the rest of the world. American
workers were twice as productive as German
workers and five times more productive than
Japanese worker.”

2. American Industry Gets the Job Done
• 600,000 Jeeps
• 88,000 tanks
• 7000 ships—liberty ships (welded not
riveted)Cheap, easy to build and hard to sink
• 20 million rifles
• 40 billion bullets
• 43 million men drafted
• As well as mines, helmets, cooking
utensils, airplanes and scores of other military
equipment

3. Government Interventions-gov. would
fix wages, rents, prices, and
production quotas
• The War Production
Board-
• Office of Price
Administration-
• Office of War
Mobilization-
• West would become
the shipping and
aircraft capital

4. Unions
• Unions grew from 9 million in 1940 to 15
million in 1945
• Women—1/3 of the workforce were married
women in their 30’s—seen as temporary
• Executive Order #8802- no
discrimination in the employment of workers
in defense industries or government because
of race.

6. Did People Care?
• Unemployment dropped from 14% in 1940 to
2% in 1943
• “ We Can Do It” attitude- everyone was called
to sacrifice

7. You’re in the Army Now
• Over 40 million men were drafted. First given
physical exams and injections against smallpox
and typhoid. They were issued
uniforms, boots, and whatever equipment was
available. The clothing bore the label GI meaning
Government Issue. Which is why American
soldiers were called GIs. Then they were giving
aptitude tests and shipped off to 8 weeks of basic
training.
• http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/edu
cation/for-students/ww2-history/america-goes-
to-war.html

8. • http://130thgeneralhospital.com/

9. A Segregated Army
• The idea of fighting a war against racism
wasn’t lost in African Americans.
• The beginnings of the Civil Rights movement
• Double V Campaign—a victory over Hitler’s
racism aboard and a victory over racism at
home.
• African Americans had separated
barracks, latrines, mess halls, and recreational
facilities.
• Tuskegee Airman
• http://youtu.be/BpA6TC0T_Lw

10. Women in the Army
• Women’s Army Corps, nurses, administrative
and clerical jobs
• 2nd Lt. Elmira Dalrymple

11. “They walk like free men”

12. • The struggle against the Nazi’s helped reshape
the way U.S. thought of themselves.
• Because Nazi’s were racists, Americans were
thinking of themselves as
tolerant, equal, diversified.
• Now did Americans suddenly embrace
equality for all??

13. Anti Semitism
• Jews—only about 21,000 immigrated at this
time
• USS St. Louis

14. Japanese American Relocation
• Executive Order # 9066
• Because of fear and racism all persons of
Japanese ancestry were ordered to evacuate
to internment camps.
• http://www.imdb.com/media/rm497324544/t
t0099291
• Korematsu V. U.S.—Supreme Court ruled
relocation was constitutionally permissible

18. Zoot Suit Riots
• Racism also reared its ugly head in other
places as well as with other nationalities.
• Mexican Americans and juvenile crime
became linked because of a zoot suit.

20. • Upon hearing rumors that Mexican American
teenagers had attacked sailors in
California, 2,400 soldiers and sailors attacked
Mexican American neighborhoods in LA. The
attacked teenagers, cut their hair, tore off
their zoot suits. The police stood by as the
violence continued for days. In the end the
Zoot suit was banned.

21. • Despite discrimination, over 500,000 Hispanic
Americans served in WWII with distinction.

22. Rations
• Rationing was common practice in order to
conserve.
• Meat, sugar, gasoline and rubber were
restricted.
• Coupons were given out.
• “Meatless Monday, Wheat- less Tuesday”
• Victory Gardens and Scrap Drives
• Paying for the War—war bonds and taxes