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WWII: Transitions on the Home Front

An overview of the economic and political changes during World War II in the United States, including the transition to war, rationing, victory gardens, war bonds, and the Four Freedoms.

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WWII: Transitions on the Home Front

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  1. World War II: Transitions on the Home FrontA brief economic and political overview

  2. Transition to War • While America declared neutrality until after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, steps were taken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to get the American economy and people ready for a potential war. • Congress passed the Selective Training and Service Act (first peacetime draft) in 1940 • Draft Cards:

  3. Transition to War: Economic • The government established in Aug. 1941 the Office of Price Administration (OPA) to set maximum prices and in December 1941, rationing took effect. • Rationed items included: gasoline, tires, coffee, sugar, meat, butter, canned goods, silk stockings

  4. Economic: Victory Gardens The government encouraged people to grow their own food to help the war effort and to supplement the rationed food supply.

  5. Victory Garden Poster

  6. Transition to War: Economic • The government raised money by increasing the number of people who paid income taxes and through selling war bonds.

  7. War Bonds

  8. War Bonds

  9. Transition to War: Political • In his State of the Union Address on Jan. 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined the natural rights of mankind, which were obviously being abolished under the Axis Powers. These natural rights were distilled into four freedoms that he believed all people were entitled to. (This is 11 months before Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese.) • Four Freedoms • Freedom of Speech • Freedom of Worship • Freedom from Want • Freedom from Fear

  10. Norman Rockwell interpreted these four freedoms in pictures to help support the war effort. Freedom of Speech

  11. Freedom of Worship

  12. Freedom from Want

  13. Freedom from Fear

  14. Rosie the Riveter

  15. Rosie the Riveter,image by Norman Rockwell

  16. Some Real “Rosie the Riveters”

  17. “Rosies” in action

  18. More “Rosies”

  19. Women and Overall War Production • From 1940 to 1944, 6 million new women joined the workforce, most in clerical and service jobs. • Women were paid less than men for the same work. • African American women and women over 40 yrs old had a harder time finding employers. • Unemployment dropped from 14.6% in 1940 to 1.2% in 1944. • Average weekly wages rose 65 percent, and manufacturing workers saw their real income jump 27 percent. • Earnings nearly doubled between 1939 and 1945.

  20. War Workers

  21. WWII: Transitions on the Home Front • Due to pre-war/early war economic and political preparations by the US government, Americans were better able to deal with the onset of war. • These preparations allowed civilians to more effectively contribute to the war effort, which in turn helped soldiers.

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