U.S. Enters WWII and Homefront
U.S. Enters WWII and Homefront
U.S. Support of Britain
1940 – Hitler controlled much of Eastern Europe, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, and France.
Britain was left alone to conquer Hitler. Once Hitler occupied France, isolationists in the U.S.
decreased. Congress passed the “Lend-Lease Act” which allowed
the U.S. to supply war goods to Britain. German submarines sunk 2 American ships the Kearney
and the Reuben James. 100 Americans were killed.
Seeds of Pearl Harbor
On July 26 1941, in response to the Japanese Army's invasion of Indochina, Roosevelt froze all Japanese assets in America Move that cut off all trade between
the two nations and deprived Japan of crucial U.S. oil supplies.
Without oil, the Japanese military machine threatened to grind to a halt.
In response, then, Japan's leaders decided to wage a war against the United States.
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Japan wanted to control Asia and decided to attack the U.S. naval bases in the Pacific so they would not interfere.
December 7, 1941 – Japanese sank 8 battleships, damaged 10 others, destroyed 188 planes, and killed more than 2,300 Americans.
December 8 – U.S. declares war on Japan. In his address to Congress asking for a declaration of war against
Japan, Roosevelt had declared that December 7, 1941 was "a date which will live in infamy."
Germany (ally of Japan) declared war on the U.S. 2 days later.
Pearl Harbor Video and Speech
Two sides in World War II
Allies-U.S. (Truman), Great Britain (Churchill), Soviet Union (Stalin), France
Axis-Germany (Hitler), Italy (Mussolini), Japan (Tojo)
World War II - Homefront Americans had to (mandatory) ration their food and other
supplies in order to help with the war effort. Ration: regulate the amount of something Rationed essential goods such as food, coffee, tires,
gas, and clothes Planted Victory Gardens to ensure enough food for
troops and civilians
World War II - Homefront Ration coupons were issued
based on the size of each family Many families happy to help with
war effort The U.S. produced massive amounts
of bombs, airplanes, ships, etc. and it brought the U.S. out of the Great Depression.
World War II - Homefront Women took the place of men in
factories and were allowed to work at non-traditional jobs outside of the home. Rosie the Riveter celebrated the
new roles given by women Around 6.5 million women joined
the workforce during the WWII African Americans and other
minorities also filled the gap held jobs down when people left for war
Women joined the Women’s Army Corps (WACS) and took clerical jobs Not allowed to enlist (join) for
regular armed forces
Office of War Information
OWI was created to control the content and imagery of war messages
Created forms of propaganda to gain support of the war Used movies, posters, radio
and newsreels Created the Voice of America to
send messages overseas to create distrust among Axis leaders and lower morale
Office of Information Advertisement
African-Americans in WWII Many worked in war
industries & govt. agencies More than 2.5 million
registered for the draft 1 million actually served
Battle on 2 fronts: enemy overseas and prejudice at home Served in segregated units
Tuskegee Airmen Black fighter group in Air Force in
Tuskegee, Alabama Started as escorts for pilots on
bombing missions (overqualified for these positions)
So good that they were requested for many escort missions
By 1944, pressure from black military leaders allowed them to fight in battle Successes were highly publicized Earn over 150 Distinguished Crosses for
achievements
Luther Smith-Tuskegee Airman
Native Americans during WWII
More than 25,000 served in combat 40,000 left to work in
defense industries
Many left the reservation for the first time
Navajo Code Talkers
Phillip Johnston proposed using the Navajo Language for codes Grew up on Navajo reservation
Among the most famous Native American servicemen were the Navajo Code Talkers who worked as communications officers on ships in the Pacific speaking
their native language—a "code" the enemy found impossible to crack. Used the Navajo language as “code” words for troops
Examples: "besh- lo" (iron fish) meant "submarine," "dah-he- tih-hi" (hummingbird) meant "fighter plane" and "debeh-li-zine" (black street) meant "squad.“
Navajo Code Video
WWII Homefront
Japanese Internment camps Forced all Japanese citizens and non citizens in the mainland U.S. to
live in camps from 1942-1944. The U.S. saw them as a threat to national security The camps were in the western portion of the U.S. where there was less
people. Atomic Bomb
Albert Einstein writes a letter to F. Roosevelt to encourage him to build the bomb.
Manhattan Project – secret plan to build the atomic bomb. President Truman dropped the first bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945
(140,000 died) and Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945 (70,000 died). The Japanese finally surrendered on Aug. 11, 1945.
Summary Video
1. List some of the items that were rationed, recycled or just went without.
2. How were these used in the war effort? 3. How did rationing and recycling bring
the U.S. closer together? 4. Do you think Americans would ration
today if we needed to? Why?