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World War II. Americans at War: 1941-1945. Mobilization of People. Selective Training and Service Act (1940) Reasons for war - The Four Freedoms speech “G.I.s” - Government Issue = Soldiers, sailors, airmen nickname for themselves
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World War II Americans at War: 1941-1945
Mobilization of People • Selective Training and Service Act (1940) • Reasons for war - The Four Freedoms speech • “G.I.s” - Government Issue = Soldiers, sailors, airmen nickname for themselves • Ethnic/racial diversity in Military Service, Women in Military Service
The DRAFT • All males 21-36 to register for military service • $2 billion to $10 billion in military spending • First peace time Military DRAFT in US
From Want The Four Freedoms - Norman Rockwell From Fear Speech Worship
The Four Freedoms • Speech given by FDR, Jan 6, 1941 • Outlined fundamental reasons and ideals to define what we would fight for.
The Soldiers • 16,000,000 served • Fought for a “cherished way of life” • Fought to preserve freedom • 300,000+ died • Called “The Greatest Generation” • Book by Tom Brokaw (NBC News)
Preparation of the Economy • War Production • Work Force • Financing - Paying for the War
War Production • The U.S. became the ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ • Ended the Great Depression • War Production Board (1942) • Converted peacetime industries to wartime • Set priorities and allocated raw materials • Office of War Mobilization • Centralized resources
U.S. Wartime Production: 1 1941 1942 1943 1944 1941 1942 1943 1944
U.S. Wartime Production: 3 1941 1942 1943 1944 1941 1942 1943 1944
The Work Force • Women joined workforce • Blacks migrated to big cities and west coast for jobs • Union membership increased
Financing The War • Government borrowed: War Bonds • GNP doubled • Deficit spending soared
Daily life in America during the War • Most people had a relative or friend in the military • War new followed closely on radio and in newspapers • Shortages, Controls, Rationing to help in the war effort • Popular Culture -flourished and also supported the war effort
Shortages - Recycling • Metal, rubber, nylon used to manufacture military goods. • Scrap metal and tires collected and recycled
Food Shortages • Office of Price Administration (OPA) • Government agency during World War II) • Controlled inflation • Rationing of scarce items: sugar, coffee, meat, butter, shoes, gasoline, etc.
Public Support: Victory Gardens • Enlisted public support • Families encouraged to grow their own food • Families encouraged to can their own food.
Other War-time slogans and efforts • “Conserve and Collect” • “Play your Part” • Night time “blackouts” Public support approached 95-100% of the population during the War years.