U.S. Mobilizes for DefenseU.S. Mobilizes for Defense

How do all Americans help with the war effort?

Factories Help the War Effort

- Factories cease normal production, begin producing war-related products, jeeps, tanks, planes, and boats, shells, uniforms

U.S. Needs More Manpower• After Pearl Harbor, 5 million men volunteer for

the military• Selective Service System drafts 10 mill. (need to fight two wars)

• 18 million new workers in war industries, incl. 6 mill women & 2 million Af-Am workers, but many Af-Ams in “menial” jobs at first

New Factory WorkersNew Factory Workers

A. Philip Randolph takes on FDR

• Since many minority workers face discrimination, A. Phillip Randolph organizes a march on Washington D.C.

• Randolph agrees to cancel the march, FDR issues an executive order preventing discrimination in Federal jobs & contracts

African Americans Help in War

• US Army Air Corps enlists African Americans for the 1st time, but units are segregated

• 99th Pursuit Squadron (Tuskegee Airmen) were trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama

• Faced discrimination but many victories against the Germans

332nd Squad

Expanding the Military

• 1942: Gen. George Marshall forms the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC), women can volunteer for non-combat positions

• Women take clerical jobs, drivers and pilots

• 1943: WAAC is no longer seen as auxiliary & will get full army benefits (WAC)

Economic Controls

1) Office of Price Administration: fought inflation by freezing wages, prices and rents, rationed food2) War Production Board: rationed fuel, rubber, metal and plastic

3) 1942 Revenue Act: raised taxes on wealthy to 88%, middle/low income now pay income tax, Treasury Dept issues war bonds

4) Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Act: Limited rights of unions to strike, allowed President to takeover striking plants

Hollywood Helps The Effort• 1940s Pop Culture centers around the war effort

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qafnJ6mRbgk

• Many films glorified the US allies, made enemies seem evil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p_SABG3SPk&safe=active

• Hollywood begins making propaganda film to support war effort, enlists celebrities to promote the war

Japanese Americans Serve Their Nation• Despite discrimination 1,300 Japanese Americans served in

Italy and N. Africa• 442nd Regimental Combat Team (Purple Heart Battalion)

earned more than 18K individual decorations (most in WWII

Navajo Code Talkers• Navajo Indians were in every US Marines assault mission conducted in the Pacific

from 1942 to 1945

• Based on their language, developed secret code that was transmitted to combat units

•

Mexican-Americans in WWII•Mexican-Americans not officially segregated but often were•141st Regiment in Europe & 153rd in Pacific were highly regarded