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World War II- Europe

Explore the mobilization of the US during WWII, from economic struggles to discriminatory practices, and efforts to enhance military capabilities. Learn about government initiatives, labor issues, segregation in the military, and the impact on different communities.

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World War II- Europe

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  1. World War II- Europe Part 1

  2. Mobilizing the US War Machine • One month after attack at Pearl Harbor, FDR gives State of the Union Address • Claims US is fighting to protect four basic human freedoms • Freedom of Speech • Freedom of Worship • Freedom from want • Freedom of fear

  3. Mobilizing the US War Machine • Great Depression decade left US ready to mobilize in 1940 • Half of White families and 90% of Black families in poverty • 14% unemployment rate • American resources and plants used roughly 50% capacity • Selective Service System drafted some 10 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 26 into the armed forces

  4. Mobilizing the US War Machine • Some 16 million American men participated in WWII, but women also given opportunities to participate • Rosie the Riveter, millions of American women worked in defense industries. • 350,000 women participated in the armed forces • Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) • Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Services (WAVES) • Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP)

  5. Mobilizing the US War Machine • By the end of WWII US defense industries produced: • 5,777 merchant ships • 1,556 Naval Bases • 299,293 Aircraft • 2x Germany 4x Japan • 634,559 jeeps and 2,282,311 trucks • 88,410 Tanks • 2x Germany • 6.5 million rifles and 40 billion bullets

  6. Mobilizing the US War Machine • WWII not only took on sexist attitudes, it took on racist ones too • ¾ Black Americans lived in the South • Poorest of the Poor • ¾ didn’t finish high school • Earned 39% of White wages • Black leaders- A. Philip Randolph- wanted blacks to participate in WWII • Black leaders wanted Blacks in the military and employed in defense industries • Randolph threatened 100,000 man march on D.C. when gov’t announced they would keep the military segregated.

  7. Mobilizing the US War Machine • FDR worried about losing Democratic South, but couldn’t afford to risk a march on Washington • Executive Order 8802: Banning discrimination in defense industries and government positions-march canceled • Blacks didn’t see combat until 1943 with Tuskegee Airmen in North Africa and Italy • Didn’t fight alongside Whites until 1944, Battle of the Bulge

  8. Mobilizing the US War Machine • With US’ two-front conflict it couldn’t afford to lose men. • FDR created Scientific Research and Development to help keep soldiers safe and healthy • Improved technology: sonar, radar, pesticides • Improved weapons: napalm, nuclear bombs • Medicine: penicillin, blood transfusions • Americans had 1 and 100 chance of dying in WWII-1/3 of WWI rate and 1/10 Civil War rate.

  9. Mobilizing the US War Machine • US mobilization took significant government organization • National Defense Advisory Committee • Handled production negotiations between gov’t and industries. • National War Labor Board • Handles labor issues between gov’t and union leaders

  10. Mobilizing the US War Machine • War Production Board • Coordinated production of military equipment and supplies • Rationed materials vital to war effort for American citizens • Victory Suits, Victory Garden • Office of Price Administration • Limited inflation with price controls and rationed domestic food supplies • Ration books

  11. Mobilizing the US War Machine • Americans worried about 320,000 Japanese-Americans in the US after Pearl Harbor. • Worried about rumors of sabotage- no proof • Issei- Japanese immigrants (1/3) • Nisei- American-born Japanese (2/3) • Executive Order 9066 • FDR ordered internment of more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans living in Western Defense Command

  12. Mobilizing the US War Machine • Japanese-Americans, citizens or not, were quickly relocated until after 1944. • Only a few thousand Germans and Italians were interned • Korematsu v. US, 1944- Supreme Court said internment was ok due to military necessity

  13. America’s WWII • Battle of the Atlantic December 1941-June 1943 • After Pearl Harbor, Hitler sends U-Boats to attack American coast • German plan: sinking 700,000 tons a month would starve to death UK and USSR • US cities refused to blackout before summer of 1943 • Hundreds of US ships sunk • Millions of tons of Allied supplies lost • Germans used advanced Triton Code to communicate

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