United States at War!!!

1. United States at War!!!

2. Mobilizing for Defense • Remember Pearl Harbor became a rally cry for the US • Tons of eager young Americans stormed recruiting offices • 5 million volunteered for service however it would not be enough for a two front war

5. Mobilizing for Defense • Selective Service System which expanded draft would eventually provide another 10 million soldiers • 8 weeks of basic training • Consisted of how to stand at attention, march, handle a rifle and follow orders

6. Expanding the Military • Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall pushed for a Woman's Auxiliary Army Corps • Women could serve in noncombat positions • Some in Congress opposed it however it became law on May 15,1942 • Worked as nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators etc (anything not involving combat)

8. Discrimination • African Americans, Native Americans, Mexican Americans and Asian Americans all suffered • Racially segregated neighborhoods and denial of basic rights • “Why fight for democracy somewhere else when you do not have it here”

9. Contributions • 300,000 Mexican Americans joined the armed forces • About 1 million African American soldiers though most would not see a lot of combat till end of war • 13,000 Chinese volunteered or about 1 in every 5 adults • 33,000 Japanese volunteered • 25,000 Native Americans volunteered including 800 women… some said if all volunteered like the Indians we would not need draft

10. Production Time • Switch from consumer goods to war goods • Last car rolled off line in Feb 1942 • Factories turned to all our war machines

11. War Production • 1944 18 Million working in war factories more then three times in 1941 • 6 million of the new workers were women • African Americans still suffered discrimination and if hired were put in lower jobs

13. Philip Randolph • Called on march to Washington to end discrimination • President was shocked about number of people he would bring • Knew he could not feed them all • FDR issued a order to call on equaility