Mobilizing for the War
Ch 12.1
Thursday, April 19, 2012
• Daily goal: • Understand how the RFC, WLB and WPB
helped transition to and maintain the war economy.
WPB
• The War Production Board set priorities and controlled the flow of raw materials.
Converting the Economy
• The RFC helped companies pay for switching from production of consumer goods to war goods.
• The Auto industry stopped building cars and began mass production of war good (tanks, planes and guns.)
• Kaiser began building thousands of cargo Liberty ships.
The GIs
• Soldier’s were nicknamed GIs because their uniforms were labeled “Government Issue.”
• African Americans and other minorities served in segregated units like the Tuskeege Airmen.
Double “V”
• African Americans wanted Victory over racism in America and over Hitler’s racism in Europe.
Women join the Army
• Women were encouraged to join to “release a man for combat” but not allowed to fight.