UNITED STATES HISTORY

America Enters World War II

1. MOVE FROM NEUTRALITY TO INVOLVEMENT

2. THE WARTIME ECONOMY3. CHANGES IN AMERICA

Three Parts:

HOW THE US OVERCAME ITS RELUCTANCE TO INTERNATIONALISM

Part 1: From Neutrality to Involvement

US Isolationism

US was bitter after WW1: Bankers & businesses made

$, Americans lost their lives We DIDN’T make the world

safe for Democracy (look at the world in 1938!)

1930s: focus on the Depression

Series of Neutrality Acts: US could NOT trade with

any nation that was at war No loans to these nations

eitherAmerica First Committee

What Changed?

We needed to help our Allies, or we may have to fight the war (interventionists): Cash & Carry (didn’t work) Lend-Lease (this did work) Exports to Japan (oil, scrap

iron) cut off to stop them from expanding (didn’t work)

Peace time draft (1st in our history) to prepare us for war (didn’t work)

Military spending increased

Then…

Pearl Harbor

Part 2: Wartime Economy

THEN…

Federal Government Runs The Economy

Office of War Mobilization (oversaw the entire wartime economy and planned everything)

War Productions Board (made industry switch to wartime production)

Production Miracle: every worker had a job; USA supplied Allies with almost EVERYTHING

Arsenal of Democracy

Rationing

Americans were prevented from buying too much of scarce items

Some were for the war: gas, clothes, food

Some were because of shortages: rubber, silk

Prevented inflationBlack Market

resultedShopping With Ration

Books

People Volunteered

Victory GardensScrap DrivesCollected paper and waste fats

Bought war bonds

Civil Defense

Part 3: Wartime Changes

No Time to Discuss Social Changes

Women Allowed in armed forces Worked outside the home Rosie the Riveter

African-Americans Better job opportunities (Great Migration

picked up) Double V Campaign Allowed to FIGHT in the armed forces

(segregated units) Racial riots in north (worse one in

Detroit—over housing) Tuskegee Airmen

Mexican-Americans Bracero program (from Mexico to farms) Zoot Suit riots