The United States at War

1. The United States at War

2. Focus Question: • What would the United States have to do to prepare for this?

3. Focus Question: • What would the United States have to do to prepare for this?

4. Pearl Harbor • Japanese attack brings U.S. into the war • U.S. sets strategy in motion • Initial outrage against Japan • Determined to defeat Germany first

5. The Home Front • World War II was a Total War • Entire American society was directed toward the war effort • No one did not take part in the war effort

6. Economy • Economic activity took on a wartime footing • Massive military contracts sent production soaring • Lifted U.S. from the Depression • Directed by the War Production Board • Production of nonessential items were halted • Large-scale rationing of commodities • Some companies fought to have their products listed as ’essential’ • The U.S. produced much of the war materiel used by the Allies

7. Inflation Curbs • Office of Price Administration created to prevent runaway inflation • Less consumer goods could equal higher prices • To keep morale up, prices capped • With full employment concern rose over higher wages • War Labor Board set caps on wages • Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Act limited ability of workers to strike

8. Finance • World War II cost the U.S. an estimate • $341 billion • ($4.137 trillion in today’s figures) • How do you finance this? • Taxation • War Bonds (135 billion sold in total)

9. Morale • Need to keep up morale at home • Sponsored numerous activities • Victory Gardens • Meatless and Wheat-less days • Scrap Drives • Civil Defense Drills

11. Societal Shifts Full Employment and Military Demands opened new opportunities • African-Americans brought into numerous industrial jobs • Braceroprogram opened opportunities for Mexican-Americans • Five million women entered the industrial workplace