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On the Home Front. 18.1 and 18.5. Preparation for War Both Civilian and Military Arsenal for Democracy Speech Four Freedoms Speech. Mobilization . . . www.loc.gov . Military. Term “GI” Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 Increase in defense spending in 1940.
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On the Home Front 18.1 and 18.5
Preparation for War Both Civilian and Military Arsenal for Democracy Speech Four Freedoms Speech Mobilization . . . www.loc.gov
Military • Term “GI” • Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 • Increase in defense spending in 1940 www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil
Military Diversity • Military was still segregated • All races and ethnic groups served • 1M African-Americans served in total (Tuskegee Airmen) • 300,000 Mexicans served mostly in the Army • 25,000 Native Americans served (Navajo Code Talkers)
Huge increase in federal defense spending $321B in total for the war effort Sources of Funds Increase in Taxes (creation of Payroll Deduction program) 2. War Bonds 3. Deficit Spending Financing the War
WAR PRODUCTION BOARD: Conversion to wartime industries Allocated raw materials Set priorities for production OFFICE OF WAR MOBILIZATION: Umbrella agency to oversee all the war effort and agencies WAR AGENCIES
OFFICE OF WAR INFORMATION: Work with media to create posters and ads to promote nationalism and patriotism Slogans OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION Control Inflation with wage and price controls Institute Rationing of scarce goods WAR AGENCIES
OTHER PROGRAMS • Liberty ships • Cost-Plus Program • Dollar-a-Year federal agency heads • National production goals challenge • Victory Gardens • Volunteer Recycling • Blackouts • Civil Defense Spotters
Wartime Work Force • Unemployment < 2% • Wages > +50% • GDP > 200% • Union membership > 15M • Smith-Connally Act – limited strikes • Second Great Migration • Bracero Program • Women
New Role for Women • 350,000 into the military in all areas except combat • Many new job opportunities • 35% of workforce • New confidence levels emerged www.loc.gov
Women Lower pay despite govt. regulation Childcare and home burdens Issues after the war with returning home Native Americans New job opportunities off the reservations Cultural change associated with urban life Discrimination
Discrimination Mexican-Americans • BraceroProgram (Mexican Farm Labor) • Increased immigration • Barrios • Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles www.neatorama.com
African-Americans Housing Ghetto tenements Worst neighborhoods 50% substandard Employment Still 1 of 5 jobless Black women the most Actions: “Double V” campaign A. Philip Randolph Executive Order 8802 (end discrimination in defense plants) FEPC (Fair Employment Practices Committee) CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) Discrimination