1941-1945
America in World War II
December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor is bombed
December 8, 1941 war is declared on the Japanese
December 11, 1941 war is declared on Germany under the abc-1 agreement with Britain.
Pearl Harbor
Executive Order No. 9066 was put into place on February 19, 1942.
It resulted in loss of property and a loss of freedom as Japanese Americans were placed in internment camps.
The order would be upheld by the Supreme Court in 1944 under the Korematsu vs. US
Japanese Americans during WWII
Great Depression woes were alleviated by the production of war goods.
$100 Billion in 1942 alone.
The War Production Board was established in January 1942, much like the War Industries Board of WWI
War Production Board
Prices soared under Full Employment and scarce consumer goods.
Prices were brought under control through regulations.
Essential goods were rations…Victory Gardens will be planted to assist in the war efforts.
Office of Price Administration
Imposed ceilings on wage increase. This was not well received by labor unions
who wanted the market to dictate wages, along with union input.
There were no-strike pledges put into place, but were ignored in some instances
United Mine Workers chief, John L Lewis will call his workers to strike several times.
National War Labor Board
Passed in June 1943, this act gave the government the ability to seize control of industries were strikers where holding war production hostage.
Coal mines and railroad were taken over by the government during this time.
Americans on the whole were behind the efforts. Strikes accounted for less than 1% of the total working hours of war time labor forces.
Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Act
Employed in noncombat duties. Known as the “women in arms”
WAAC’s (Army)WAVES (Navy)SPARS (Coast Guard)
6 million women went to work outside the home. Many had never worked outside the home.3,000 daycare centers opened
The foreshadowing of things to come as women continued to work outside the home after the war.
Women During the War
Drafted youth were clothed as “GI’s”Agriculture and Industrial workers were
sometimes exempt to keep things running at home.
Braceros, Mexican agriculture workers employed in the US during the war to fill the gaps for American youth drafted.
Young GI’s
