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Pre-WWII U.S. Action

Pre-WWII U.S. Action. Most Americans wanted to stay neutral/isolationist Neutrality Acts – U.S. would withhold weapons and loans from nations at war; nonmilitary goods must be paid in cash “cash & carry” 1 st peacetime draft in 1940: Selective Service Act. Lend-Lease Act.

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Pre-WWII U.S. Action

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  1. Pre-WWII U.S. Action • Most Americans wanted to stay neutral/isolationist • Neutrality Acts – U.S. would withhold weapons and loans from nations at war; nonmilitary goods must be paid in cash “cash & carry” • 1st peacetime draft in 1940: Selective Service Act

  2. Lend-Lease Act • Congress passes in March 1941 – FDR could aid any nation whose defense he believed was vital to American security • U.S. began sending aid to Great Britain • “Great arsenal of democracy”

  3. Mobilizing the Home Front • Desire to win war for FDR’s 4 Freedoms: Speech, Worship, Freedom from want & freedom from fear • OCD – Office of Civilian Defense: asked citizens to volunteer an hour a day for the cause • Victory Gardens & recycling

  4. Office of War Information • Coordinated war info to distribute to American public • Hollywood creates movies in patriotic spirit & stores emphasize conserving

  5. War Production • War Production Board (WPB) created in Jan. 1942 • Limits production of non-military goods; switch to military production • Convince business to increase production; the gov’t often paid businesses for it • Industrial production almost doubles

  6. Wartime Economy • GNP rises dramatically during war • Employment rises; demand rises; inflation ? • National War Labor Board (NWLB): controls wages & monitors inflation • Office of Price Administration (OPA): put price ceilings on goods • Rationing – meat, butter, gasoline

  7. Cost of War • WWII cost 10 times more than WWI • Starts modern tax structure with income tax & corporate taxes • Gov. sold bonds to American public to borrow $ for war costs (taxes paid rest)

  8. Workers • No-strike pledge • NWLB settled disputes • 15 million workers leave for military service; jobs filled by unemployed, and women • Women got paid less, less job security, treated poorly

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