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?