WWII on the Homefront

Determining War Strategy Many Americans only goal was to get

revenge on Japan Despite this, in the ABC-1 Agreement, US

agreed to “Beat Hitler First” strategy Knew we could never win war unless defeated

Hitler Sent most troops to Europe, just enough to

Pacific to stop Japanese offense

The Importance of Time US had to build up wartime economy

quickly, since Britain and USSR fighting alone and weak

US had great potential in terms of military and production, but it needed time to build up both

The fear of “enemy aliens” Public rallied behind WWII like never before Many feared that immigrant groups were

not unified with allied cause and were actually enemy agents Germans and Italians: forced to move away from

military bases, dealt with curfews, often jailed as spies without proof

Japanese Internment Executive Order 9066: Ordered all Japanese-

Americans on West Coast, regardless of age, birthplace of gender, into internment camps for duration of war.

Deprived Japanese of essential rights, many lost all life savings when had to pack up to go to camps.

1944 Korematsu v. US: Upheld internment as necessary

1988: US officially apologized and paid $20,000 in reparations

Mobilizing the Economy for War Wartime production

officially ended the Depression

War Production Board: Established to coordinate production of war materials Halted production of

nonessential materials Imposed national speed

limit to conserve rubber

Mobilizing the Economy for War ctnd. Office of Price Administration:

To curb wartime inflation Set price ceilings Established rationing of

critical goods (meat, butter) National War Labor Board: To

keep workers in factories Imposed ceilings on wage

increases Required 30 days notice

before strike Many unhappy workers still

went on strike

Building up troops 15 million men and

250,000 women enlisted Women in non-combat

positions WAACs (army), WAVES

(navy) To keep production going,

certain groups of workers eliminated from draft Still, drain on agricultural

workers led government to create bracero program with Mexico.

Women in WWII Benefited from huge demand

for labor because of wartime production

Many American women entered workforce for first time

“Rosie the Riveter”—icon of women worker

Women told it was their patriotic duty to work

Over 6 million women entered the workforce

Women who worked before the war were able to get better paying jobs when war began

Did Women’s Roles Really Change? Men continued to dominate supervisory positions Women still paid less WOMEN FORCED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE

AT THE END OF THE WAR! 1950s: Women return role of housewives in suburbs

Women veterans were not recognized for benefits until 1979.

Wartime Migrations Many moved into new boomtowns: Los

Angeles, Detroit, Seattle Federal government gave most defense

contracts to South Increased population in region known as

“Sunbelt”

Race in World War II Racism in military

Soldiers of color enlisted, but in segregated units

Many of these units were the most decorated of the war

African-Americans: Tuskegee Airmen

Mexican-Americans: Company E of the 141st Regiment

Japanese Americans: 442nd Regimental Combat Team

Native-Americans: Served in Marine Corps as Navajo Code Talkers

African-Americans During War Double Victory campaign: Victory against

dictators abroad, and racism at home Some victories: more job opportunities,

increased migration to North and West (esp. CA)

Still, much racism: blacks paid less, discriminated in housing, in public facilities

African-American Resistance Blacks begin organizing:

1941: A. Philip Randolph threatened to march on Washington to protest prejudice against African-American workers

In response to threat, Roosevelt banned discrimination in government agencies.

Established the Fair Employment Practices Commission to insure equal treatment for African-Americans and other minorities in war industries.

Still, results limited. When GIs returned, blacks still first to lose jobs.

All of this is an important precedent to Civil Rights movement.

Racial Tensions in LA during WWII

Racism against Mexican Americans and the fear of teen crime

Mexican American teenagers who wore “zoot suits” were targeted.

June 1943: 2500 soldiers and sailors attacked Mexican American neighborhoods in LA

WWII a Benefit for US Unlike rest of world economies, US’ actually

grows during and after WWII Government worked more directly to regulate the

economy than ever before! Official end to Depression Postwar economy will continue to depend on

military spending. Despite higher taxes, national debt rose to new

levels. War cost $10 million an hour