the us on the home front
The United States Reaction to World War 2
Originally as World War 2 started, the United States as a whole did not participate or take part in the war. At the time before the war, the US was in the Great Depression. The people of America thought that the problems in American soil was more important to tend to then the European War. The initial reaction from the United States was neutrality and this can be seen by the Neutrality acts of 1935 to 1939. The Neutrality acts banned the selling, and exporting of military aid to European countries. As the war progressed, Japan started to take over pacific islands that were under ally rule. The United States set up an embargo on Japan which banned the export of oil to Japan which at the time was very important for Japanese function. Because of the embargo, Japan bombed the United States naval base Pearl Harbor. The American reaction to the surprise attack by the Japanese was to declare war on Japan. The picture to the left is of President Roosevelt giving a speech on December, 8 1941 that declared war on Japan.
Propaganda
Patriotism became the central theme of advertising throughout the war, as large scale campaigns were launched to sell war bonds, promote efficiency in factories, reduce ugly rumors, and maintain civilian morale. The war consolidated the advertising industry's role in American society, deflecting earlier criticism. All the media cooperated with the federal government in presenting the official view of the war. Posters helped to motivate the nation. The poster was an ideal agent for making war aims the personal mission of every citizen because it was inexpensive, accessible, and always present. Government agencies, businesses, and private organizations issued an array of poster images linking the military front with the home front, calling upon every American to boost production at work and at home. Some resorted to extreme racial and ethnic caricatures of the enemy, sometimes as hopelessly bumbling cartoon characters, sometimes as evil, half-human creatures. A strong aspect of American culture then as now was an attraction with celebrities, and the government used them in its eight war bond campaigns that called on people to save now (and redeem the bonds after the war, when houses, cars and appliances would again be available.) The War Bond drives helped finance the war. Americans were challenged to put at least 10% of every paycheck into bonds. Compliance was high, with entire work places earning a special "Minuteman" flag to fly over their plant if all workers belonged to the "Ten Percent Club". Hollywood studios would go all out to help create propaganda and promote the war effort. Several military units created films that were later narrated by Ronald Reagan. Most of all Hollywood made hundreds of war movies that, in coordination with the Office of War Information, taught Americans what was happening and who the heroes and the villains were. Ninety million people went to the movies every week. Some of the most highly regarded films during this period included Casablanca, Mrs. Miniver, Going My Way, and Yankee Doodle Dandy. Even before active American involvement in the war, the popular Three Stooges comic trio were lampooning the Nazi German leadership, and Nazis in general, with a number of short subject films, starting with You Nazty Spy! in January 1940, nearly two years before the United States was drawn into World War II. Indeed, You Nazty Spy! was the very first Hollywood-produced work to ridicule Hitler and the Nazis. To heighten the suspense, Hollywood needed to feature attacks on American soil, and obtained inspirations for dramatic stories from the Philippines. Indeed, the Philippines became a "homefront" that showed the American way of life threatened by the Japanese enemy. Especially popular were the films Texas to Bataan, Corregidor, Bataan , They Were Expendable, and Back to Bataan. Due to the large amount of propaganda that occurred during this time period, the American population felt a need to help with the war effort to stop the evil that was going on in Europe and the Pacific. The picture to the left is a propaganda poster that is persuading the american public to buy victory bonds. The idea of representing the enemies as evil can be seen here because there are claws that are reaching after an innocent women and child. On the hands are the Nazi symbol and the Japanese flag which was the rising sun which shows that the Japanese and Nazis were evil.
This YouTube video is an example of propaganda during the 1940s. This video is of famous Disney characters Pluto the dog and Minnie the Mouse and the video is promoting women to save the fats and oils used when cooking so it can be turned into explosives for the Allies.
united States' attempt to support the war effort Economically
Usually war has always involved the military and political leaders, but this did not stop the American citizens from trying to support both the United States and Ally military The main contributions the United States citizens helped aid the war was money, food, jobs and soldiers. Economically, the United States did a lot as a country to help raise money and lessen the amount of spending. President Roosevelt and congress both agreed that it was necessary to have raise the taxes to pay for the war. The top marginal tax rates ranged anywhere from 81%-94% for the duration of the war. The highest rate of income level was lowered from $5 million to about $2 hundred thousand. The Governments also set up a rationing system in 1942 that guaranteed the limiting of necessities to everyone to stop inflation.Tires were the first item to be rationed in January 1942 because supplies of natural rubber were interrupted. Gasoline rationing proved an even better way to stop using natural rubber. By 1943 the government issued ration coupons to purchase typewriters, coffee, sugar, gasoline, bicycles, clothing, fuel oil, silk, nylon, stoves, shoes, meat, cheese, butter, lard, margarine, canned foods, dried fruits, jam, and many other items. To get a classification and a book of rationing stamps, one had to appear before a local rationing board. Each person in a household received a ration book, including babies and children. When purchasing gasoline, a driver had to present a gas card along with a ration book and cash. Ration stamps were valid only for a set period to prevent hoarding. Another way that Americans supported war efforts was by using savings accounts. During this period of time, Americans were saving money at the highest rate possible at the time. This was due to War bonds because consumer saving was strongly encouraged by investing in War bonds( Debt securities issued by the government ti finance military operations during war). Most workers had an automatic payroll deduction; children collected savings stamps until they had enough to buy a bond. Bond rallies were held throughout the U.S. with famous celebrities, usually Hollywood film stars, to enhance the bond advertising effectiveness. The economy also rose because of millions of new jobs being made. War brings plenty of new jobs for several young men to have. While the men went to war, the women and teenagers would take over the jobs and start to raise money themselves. With all of the new jobs being taken, the Depression that America had during the 1930s drifted away and the US was in a stable position to help provide military aid with all the money being saved and raised. The picture to the left is a poster that is telling America that everybody can help the war even if they are not in the military by rationing, and working at a job.
This YouTube video shows how the United States helped the war effort on American Soil. The video consists of several pictures and short animations that show people joining the military, working in jobs and attending several rallies to support military funds.
united states war efforts - Drafts
In 1940 Congress passed the first peace-time draft legislation. It was renewed in summer 1941. It involved questions as to who should control the draft, the size of the army, and the need for deferments. The system worked through local draft boards comprising community leaders who were given quotas and then decided how to fill them. There was very little draft resistance. The nation went from a surplus manpower pool with high unemployment and relief in 1940 to a severe manpower shortage by 1943. Industry realized that the Army urgently desired production of essential war materials and foodstuffs more than soldiers. (Large numbers of soldiers were not used until the invasion of Europe in summer 1944.) In 1940-43 the Army often transferred soldiers to civilian status in the Enlisted Reserve Corps in order to increase production. Those transferred would return to work in essential industry, although they could be called back to active duty if the Army needed them. Others were discharged if their civilian work was deemed essential. There were instances of mass releases of men to increase production in various industries. Working men who were ineligible for the draft took second jobs. One contentious issue involved the drafting of fathers, which was avoided as much as possible. The drafting of 18 year olds was desired by the military but vetoed by public opinion. Racial minorities were drafted at the same rate as Whites, and were paid the same, but blacks were kept in all-black units. The experience of World War I regarding men needed by industry was particularly unsatisfactory with too many skilled mechanics and engineers, they eventually became privates. The benefit of having the draft was that it helped bring down the unemployment rate. In 1939 (before the US was involved in the war), the unemployment rate was at 17.2% and by 1945 (end of the war) the unemployment rate dropped to 1.9%. The unemployment rate dropped because up to 10 million soldiers were drafted into the United States military. These soldiers would eventually go off and help the Allies in France and other places in Europe to stop the Germans.The picture to the left is of several families who have a son drafted in the military. The families are all gathered around one individual who is in charge for choosing who enters the draft by a random lottery.
This Youtube video contains the stories of World War 2 veterans who talk about why they were put in the United States military in the first place, a draft. The video contains several photos and stories that all show and explain how the draft was a random lottery and that anybody could have been chosen.
Role of women during war
During World War 1, while the men were out fighting, the women took over the jobs and businesses that were left behind. This idea continued during World War 2 as the men went to fight. Women took an active role in World War 2 by taking on many paid jobs in munition factories, stores and several other places. The idea of American women taking jobs at munition factories during World War 2 was represented by a cultural icon, Rosie the Riveter. These women would take on the jobs of men and they would stay there until the war was over.Women worked in traditional female jobs such as a waitress, but they also took over men jobs like a bank teller or a shoe salesman. Nearly one million women worked as so called "government girls," taking jobs in the federal government, mainly in Washington, DC, that had previously been held by men or were newly created to deal with the war effort. Women staffed millions of jobs in community service roles, such as nursing. Unorganized women were encouraged to collect and turn in materials that were needed by the war effort. Women collected fats rendered during cooking, children formed balls of aluminum foil they peeled from chewing gum wrappers, and also created rubber band balls, which contributed to the war effort. The Women Air force Service Pilots sent 1,000 civilian women to fly new warplanes from the factories to airfields located on the east coast of the U.S. This created a huge impact in gender history because only men were able to fly warplanes but now women were able to. Marriage and motherhood came back during the 1940s because of couples who wanted to grow up and make a new family. In 1941, the birthrate started to rise and rise until reaching its peak in the 1950s, this became known as a baby boom because of how high the birthrate rose. The federal government set up the Emergency Maternity and Infant Care program which provided free parental and natal care for wives of soldiers that were under the ranking of sergeant. Doing their roles as mothers due to the Baby Boom and the jobs they filled while the men were at war, women struggled to complete them all. The war caused cutbacks in automobile and bus service, and migration from farms and towns to munitions centers. Those housewives who worked found the dual role difficult to handle. The stress and frustration from the housewives became very real for several women. However, the worst of the stress and frustration came when sons, husbands, brothers and fiances were drafted into the military and sent to camps far away, preparing for war which had no estimate of how many casualties would happen. http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=forum&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dhousewives%2520in%2520world%2520war%25202%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D1%26ved%3D0CCsQFjAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdigitalcommons.calpoly.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1025%2526context%253Dforum%26ei%3DeeOYUeiMA7W64APM24CYBA%26usg%3DAFQjCNHMkTYiTxnzHzaSI5JoJD5HgJbBtQ%26bvm%3Dbv.46751780%2Cd.dmg#search=%22housewives%20world%20war%202%22 This link will take you to an article written by Caroline Cornell which depicts the life of housewives and how stressful it would be to work several jobs everyday all while trying to take care of a family. The picture to the left is a poster of Rosie the Riveter and this would be hung throughout America to show that women had a role to fulfill while the men were fighting for war, and the role was to work.
The YouTube video above is a short film/documentary that talks about the manpower during the World War 2 era. This film discusses the lack of men at jobs because of the war so women of all types and all skills would fulfill the jobs left behind by men and exceed at them.
Ethnic culture and groups during war
The African American community in the United States resolved on a Double V Campaign: Victory over fascism abroad, and victory over discrimination at home. Large numbers migrated from poor Southern farms to munitions centers. Racial tensions were high in overcrowded cities like Chicago, Detroit and Harlem experienced race riots ( a riot cause by racial hatred or discrimination). in 1943. Black newspapers created the Double V Campaign to build black morale. Most Black women had been farm laborers or domestics before the war. Despite discrimination and segregated facilities throughout the South, they escaped the cotton patch and took factory and store jobs in the cities. Working with the federal Fair Employment Practices Committee, the NAACP and CIO unions, these Black women fought a “Double V” campaign against the Axis abroad and against restrictive hiring practices at home. Their efforts redefined citizenship, equating their patriotism with war work, and seeking equal employment opportunities, government entitlements, and better working conditions as conditions appropriate for full citizens.The Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC) was a federal executive order requiring companies with government contracts not to discriminate on the basis of race or religion. It assisted African Americans in obtaining jobs in industry. Under pressure from A Phillip Randolph's growing march on Washington Movement, on June 25, 1941, President Roosevelt created the Fair Employment Practices Committee by signing Executive Order 8802. It said "there shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color, or national origin". In 1943 Roosevelt greatly strengthened the FEPC with a new executive order. It required that all government contracts have a non-discrimination clause. FEPC was the most significant breakthrough ever for Blacks and women on the job front. During the war the federal government operated airfield, shipyards, supply centers, ammunition plants and other facilities that employed millions. FEPC rules applied and guaranteed equality of employment rights. These facilities shut down when the war ended. In the private sector the FEPC was generally successful in enforcing non-discrimination in the North, it did not attempt to challenge segregation in the South, and in the border region its intervention led to hate strikes by angry white workers. In the South, black women worked in segregated jobs; in the West and most of the North they were integrated, but wildcat strikes erupted in Detroit, Baltimore, and Evansville where white migrants from the South refused to work alongside black women. The picture to the left is of a race riot in Harlem that occurred in 1943. The riot can be seen as very destructive because of all the trash and clutter on the streets.
Us treatment to Japanese immigrants in America
Before world war 2 the Japanese American population of the United States was quite large. It consisted of two groups which were foreign-born immigrants or their relatives and children who were born here. As the war was booming in Europe the Japanese Americans were watching conflicts between America and Japan grow. Many of these immigrants knew that they would be discriminated against if the countries went to war so they sat there praying. Unfortunately for them Japan attacked Pearl Harbor officially bringing America and Japan into the War. The war started American discomfort about the people in the countries with ties to Japan. The Government was afraid that these Japanese could be spies. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, both groups were classified as enemy aliens. Although the nation was also at war with Germany and Italy, the native-born Italian and German Americans faced little hostility. However right after we began fighting the Japanese Americans started harassing and discriminating against people with Japanese heritage. Japanese started hiding any giveaways of their culture in fear of what might happen to them. In February 19, 1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. It allowed the secretary of war to create military zones within the U.S. At first the order was not targeted at any group, but it soon became the start of a huge relocation and collection of over 100,000 Japanese Americans. There was not much regard to whether you were citizens or non citizens. In March 1942, Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt the commander of the U.S. Army Western Defense Command made a massive line along the west coast and made it illegal for any persons of Japanese ancestry to cross it. There were also announcements to these Japanese Americans to report to civilian assembly centers. Japanese that tried to fight this were usually found out of rated on by a suspicious citizen. On short notice the Japanese Americans were forced to abandon their businesses, farms and homes. They were then moved to remote internment camps, also called relocation centers. These camps weren’t even close to the horrors that were the concentration camps in Germany, but they still were bad. The Japanese Americans were cut off from society and lived in unsanitary wood and dirt cabins. It was as if these innocent Americans were being treated as POW’s. In December 1945 Public Proclamation number 21, became effective an allowed internees to return to their homes. The camps had became popularly seen as concentration camps and a violation of our countries beliefs and laws. At the end of the war some many prisoners were unforgiving and returned to Japan. Ones who stayed came back to see their families in shambles and their businesses gone. It took up to 1988 for U.S. Congress to pass a legislation which awarded formal payments of $20,000 each to the surviving family directly affected by the camps.
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-internment-of-japanese-americans/100132/
This link will bring you to a website that will discuss how poor the Japanese were treated during America's time in war.
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/world-war-ii-internment-of-japanese-americans/100132/
This link will bring you to a website that will discuss how poor the Japanese were treated during America's time in war.
These image is an example of how the Japanese internment camps would look like. The houses were very small to live in because hundreds of Japanese families would have to live in these camps and homes. Also, the camps were very unsanitary which meant that there was easy amount of disease to spread throughout the area.
This YouTube video is part one of a documentary that talks about Japanese internment camps. The documentary contains several interment camp survivors that explain their experiences in the camps and how poorly they were treated because they did not come from America. The documentary also tells how internment camp members had to prove their loyalty to America by joining the United States military.
Novels of japanese internment camps
I Am An American: A True story of Japanese Internment, is written by Jerry Stanley. This novel takes place during the world war 2 era and is about a young Shi Nomura who is one of 120,000 other american citizens who lost everything when he was sent to an internment camp in California all because he was of Japanese ancestry.
Silver Like Dust
Silver Like Dust is written by Kimi Cunningham Grant and it tells the story of a young girl who decides to learn more about her ancestry. When the young girl reaches her grandmother's past, she realizes that her Grandma was taken to an internment camp shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor because of the threat of Japanese spies or loyalists.