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)
