United States in World War II

Today's Objectives. 1)Evaluate how the U.S.

Prepared for war. 2)Identify how Americans

privately supported the war.

3)Discuss how the Federal Govt. Promoted the war.

United States in W.W.II

U.S. needed to prepare for war. Production would be key to winning.

Organizing Production

F.D.R. Created new boards to manage industries.

War Production Board Switched factories to

produce war goods. Cars → Tanks

Built new plants.

Organizing Production

Willow Run Factory (Michigan)

Built planes. 900 Acres big Parts came in one

end, planes flew out the other.

Kaiser Permanente Yards

• Built convoy ships• 1941: 355 days per

ship• 1943: 41 days per

ship

Organizing Production

U.S. Starts overproducing. Many armament jobs

open up. 22,000 → 486,000 in

bullet making alone. Unemployment disappears!

Entire Economy became a War Economy.

Organizing Production

Office of War Mobilization Managed consumer

goods. Ex. Regulated length

of fabric in clothing. Recycling!

Paying for the War

Fed. Govt. increased number of Americans paying taxes..

Sold war bonds. Office of Price Administration

Kept prices/wages stable Rationed consumer goods.

Rationing in W.W.II

Americans planted “Victory Gardens” Grew their own vegetables

to eat.

Cut back on consuming goods.

Training an Army

(July 1940) Selective Training and Service Act First Peacetime Draft in U.S. History 2/3rds of W.W.II soldiers draftees.

Promoting the War

Americans supported W.W.II heavily. Attack on Pearl Harbor gave them no choice.

Promoting the War

Office of War Information

Controlled flow of news at home.

Made films. Stressed American

values U.S. was

threatened!