The U.S. in World War II

1. http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/images/ww2-05.jpghttp://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/images/ww2-05.jpg http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/images/ww2-06.jpg The U.S. in World War II http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/images/ww2-02.jpg http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/ Section 1: Mobilizing for Defense Section 2: The War for Europe and North Africa Section 3: The War in the Pacific Section 4: The Home Front Follow the Links in this PowerPoint

2. Economic Gains • Unemployment 1.2% • 70% increase in weekly paychecks • People were able to SAVE MONEY • Farmers prospered , had good weather, etc. • Women made employment gains

3. Population Shifts • Mass migration of Americans • States with military bases or defense plants saw huge gains • Pacific Coast (California, Washington) • Conn., Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, Florida • Problems • Housing shortages • Food shortages (rationing)

4. Social Adjustments • Mothers raised children alone as fathers went off to war. • Working mothers needed daycare • Marriage boom • Divorce rates increased • Dear John Letters • GI Bill • Provided education and training for veterans, paid by the federal government. • Provided federal loan program to buy homes, businesses and farms

5. Defense and National Security • Suspicion of Enemy Aliens (Japanese, German, and Italian descent) • Focus on Japanese on West Coast of U.S. • California Attorney General – Earl Warren • Urged relocation of Japanese to isolated areas until end of War • Roosevelt signed order Feb. 1942 • 112,000 Japanese Americans (1/2 U.S. citizens) were sent to permanent camps in isolated areas of the U.S.

6. http://www.archive.org/details/Japanese1943 Watch U.S. Propaganda Film – Follow Link • IMPORTANT: Before watching film, understand that this newsreel was made by the government sometime in the middle of 1942 to explain the government’s reasons and strategies for interning Japanese Americans. This was before television was widespread, and long before personal computers and the internet! Discussion: • What were some of the reasons for internment offered in the newsreel? • How does the newsreel portray internment? Is it positive or negative? • Who do you think the audience was for this newsreel?

7. Japanese Internment • Japanese were ordered to report to train of bus stations within as little as 48 hours • Many lost homes, businesses, and farms • Lose of Civil Rights • Property • Jobs (Civil Service) • Doctors and Lawyers had licenses revoked • Unable to shop, cash checks, or be insured. • Almost ALL remained loyal to the U.S. Similar to the Nuremberg Laws in Germany

8. Internment Camps • http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/history/index.html PBS Information Website • http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/history/camps.html Camp Information – 10 Camps

9. Nisei • Nisei – 2nd generation Japanese- American – U.S. Citizen • As U.S. citizens, Japanese young men are subject to the draft. • 8000 were drafted • 9000 volunteered • 442nd Regimental Combat Team • Most decorated combat force in Army • Fought in Europe • See website below http://www.goforbroke.org/history/history_historical_veterans_442nd.asp

10. Korematsu v. United States • Ruled that the U.S. government the policy of internment was justified on the basis of “military necessity.” http://jdhilmer.com/Brandon/korematsuv.unitedstates.htm

11. Japanese American Citizen League • Pushed for compensation for property loss • 1965 – Congress authorized $38 million -less than 1/10 of actual losses • 1978 – Called for reparations • 1988 – Pres. Reagan signed bill for $20,000 per person • 1990 – Checks were sent with letter from Pres. Bush

12. Assignment • Write your response to the internment of the Japanese during World War II. • Argue for or against their internment. Be specific. • Give specific reasons for why you feel this way. • You may use the internet to look up more information on the topic. • You will do this activity in Moodle Forum.