How were all Americans asked to help during World War II?

Do Now – Test Tomorrow!

• The Arsenal of Democracy - The U.S. must become the suppliers of the allies during the war. The entire U.S. workforce and economy are geared toward war production.

• Propaganda - The government achieved it’s goals by persuading American’s to help through propaganda. Various forms of media (radio, pamphlets, movies, posters etc) were used to ”sell” the war.

• War Production Board - Oversaw production and controlled distribution of natural resources – exerted even greater control over the economy than the New Deal.

• Labor - U.S. needed a constant labor supply to support it’s war industries. Over 5 million women entered the workforce Rosie the Riveter) and African-Americans migrated north to factory jobs.

LaborU.S. needed a constant labor

supply to support it’s war industries. Over 5 million women entered the workforce Rosie the Riveter) and African-Americans migrated north to factory jobs.

ConservationThe Office of Price Administration

controlled the supply of essential goods through rationing. Ration booklets were given to families to help ensure meat, sugar, gas etc. was not wasted.

Gas Rations

Conservation

Americans were also encouraged to grow and jar their own food. These gardens were named “victory gardens.” They were also encouraged to recycle. (scrap drives)

Scrap Drive

Financing the War• Dramatic expansion of federal power,

particularly executive branch (War Powers Act)

• Mobilization required cooperation between business and politics (like WWI)

• 1945 Federal budget ($95 billion)10 times greater than in 1939

Organizing for VictoryFinancing the War

• Revenue Act of 1942 – Average American also taxed – Tax revenues rise from $2.2 to $35.1 billion

• Payroll deductions and tax withholding sold to public as patriotic

• Govt. employees increase fourfold – far beyond New Deal expansion

• “Dollar-a-year-men” – agencies staffed by active business leaders

Organizing for VictoryFinancing the War

• Office of Price Administration (OPA) – supervised domestic economy (inflation, allocation of resources etc)

• Anti-Inflation Act – stabilized prices, wages and salaries –Goods + Wages = Inflation

Japanese Internment

• Executive order 4066 – FDR orders all (Japanese-Americans – many of whom were native born citizens) to be moved to “relocation centers” and were “interned” (imprisoned). Most had to sell their homes and businesses for pennies on the dollar, devastating them economically.

Korematsu V. United States (1943)

• A Japanese American, Fred Korematsu challenged his detention as unconstitutional. A split court decided that the detention was a “military necessity.”