MobilizatMobilization for ion for

WWIIWWII

America First?America First?

Four days after attack on Pearl Harbor, Four days after attack on Pearl Harbor, America First Committee holds emergency America First Committee holds emergency meetingmeeting

Vote to dissolve organizationVote to dissolve organization

““The time for military action is here.The time for military action is here.””

Selective Training and Selective Training and Service ActService Act

In 1940, FDR institutes the first In 1940, FDR institutes the first peacetime conscriptionpeacetime conscription

After Pearl HarborAfter Pearl HarborExpandedExpanded

Between 1940-47, over 10 million Between 1940-47, over 10 million inductedinducted

Critical Thinking

What messages do you think the US government needed to convey to the people in order to successfully conduct the war effort?

PropagandaPropaganda

Multiple messagesMultiple messagesRemind public of the enemyRemind public of the enemyEncourage enlistmentEncourage enlistmentKeep production highKeep production highStay unitedStay unitedConserveConserveSupport the war financiallySupport the war financially

Economic MobilizationEconomic Mobilization

Depression actually Depression actually becomes a positive becomes a positive for USfor USWhy?Why?

WWII mobilization WWII mobilization effectively ends effectively ends DepressionDepression

Wartime Production

Administration fears conflict between military and civilian production “Arsenal of Democracy”

Government relies on big companies to produce for war Cost-plus contracting

Wage and price controls instituted Union membership preserved

War MeasuresWar Measures

National War Labor Board, 1942National War Labor Board, 1942 Could impose binding solutions in labor disputesCould impose binding solutions in labor disputes

War Production Board, 1942War Production Board, 1942 David Nelson (Executive from Sears)David Nelson (Executive from Sears) Regulated production and allocation of materials Regulated production and allocation of materials

and fueland fuel

RationingRationing Prevent waste and conserve resources for war Prevent waste and conserve resources for war

efforteffort

Financing the War

FDR wants to increase taxes to support war Taxpayers go from 4

million to 40 million

Congress balks at further tax increases

War is financed through War Bonds and borrowing

“Loose Lips Sink Ships”

Millions of volunteers drafted for the war effort Access to sensitive information

Government warned against carelessly dropping details in conversation You never know who might be an

Axis spy

Women are Called Upon

Mass mobilization requires participation of all citizens

Women have unprecedented opportunities in military and in industry

Social change resulted from huge female participation in the labor force Would eventually give birth to Women’s

Rights movement in 1960s

Women in the Service

Each military branch has women corps Support positions WACs (Army) WAVES (Navy) WASP (Air Force) Army Nurse Corps

Over 250,000 women served Over 400 killed

“Rosie the Riveter”

Propaganda encouraged women to enter work force

By end of war, over 18 million women employed 1/3rd of work force

3 million worked in war plants

Closing Thoughts

Contrast the mobilization for World War II with our mobilization for our current wars. What is similar and what is different?