On the Home Front

18.1 and 18.5

Mobilization . . .Preparation for WarBoth Civilian and Military

Arsenal for Democracy SpeechFour Freedoms Speech

www.loc.gov

MilitaryTerm “GI”

Selective Training and Service Act of 1940

Increase in defense spending in 1940

www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil

Military DiversityMilitary was still segregatedAll races and ethnic groups served1M African-Americans served in total(Tuskegee Airmen)300,000 Mexicans served mostly in the Army25,000 Native Americans served

(Navajo Code Talkers)

Financing the War

Huge increase in federal defense spending

$321B in total for the war effort

Sources of Funds

1. Increase in Taxes(creation of Payroll Deduction program)

2. War Bonds

3. Deficit Spending

WAR AGENCIESWAR PRODUCTION BOARD:

Conversion to wartime industriesAllocated raw materialsSet priorities for production

OFFICE OF WAR MOBILIZATION:

Umbrella agency to oversee all the war effort and agencies

WAR AGENCIESOFFICE OF WAR INFORMATION:

Work with media to create posters and ads to promote nationalism and patriotismSlogans

OFFICE OF PRICEADMINISTRATION

Control Inflation with wage and price controlsInstitute Rationing of scarce goods

OTHER PROGRAMSLiberty shipsCost-Plus ProgramDollar-a-Year federal agency headsNational production goals challengeVictory GardensVolunteer RecyclingBlackoutsCivil Defense Spotters

Wartime Work ForceUnemployment < 2%Wages > +50%GDP > 200%Union membership > 15MSmith-Connally Act – limited strikesSecond Great MigrationBracero ProgramWomen

New Role for Women350,000 into the military in all areas except combat

Many new job opportunities35% of workforceNew confidence levels emerged

www.loc.gov

Discrimination

WomenLower pay despite govt. regulationChildcare and home burdensIssues after the war with returning home

Native AmericansNew job opportunities off the reservations

Cultural change associated with urban life

DiscriminationMexican-AmericansBracero Program (Mexican Farm Labor)Increased immigrationBarriosZoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles

www.neatorama.com

Discrimination

African-AmericansHousing

Ghetto tenementsWorst neighborhoods50% substandard

EmploymentStill 1 of 5 joblessBlack women the most

Actions:1. “Double V” campaign2. A. Philip Randolph3. Executive Order 8802 (end discrimination in defense

plants)

4. FEPC (Fair Employment Practices Committee)

5. CORE (Congress of Racial Equality)