US and WWII

• *attack on Pearl Harbor united America’s commitment to winning war (took 4 years)– Evaluate how America’s commitment would have been different if the US was

not attacked by Japan.

• *enemies shocked at speed US produced ships, planes, arms, and supplies for war (mobilization of industry)– Explain several advantages the US had in producing goods that allowed the US

to out produce our enemies.

• *minorities begin to demand equal rights)– Identify 3 minority groups impacted by the war and explain their impact on the

war effort.– Analyze why would these groups suddenly demand equal rights because of the

war? Why were they not successful in garnering support for equal rights before?

• *war ends the depression (Gov. spending triples and jobs are created to make war supplies)

Armed Forces- 15 mil. Americans serve in war

– Selective Service Act- 10 million Americans DRAFTED to fight• Immigrant soldiers- German, Italian, East European, Mex/Am.

fought for US• Af/Am.- 1 mil. served in segregated units, saw combat last yr. of

war» Analyze the hypocracy of the US fighting against the Nazi’s

with segregated troops? Why do you feel minority groups fought so hard for the US, even though they were not treated equally?

– Tuskeegee Airmen- Af/Am. airplane fighter squad (highest rate of protection for US bombers)» *After the war Army was desegregated

Mobilizing for War- American industry converts to war production

– Bond Drives- helped pay for war (Am. Would “invest” 10% to gov.) – War Powers Act- pres. had power to unite industry and military

together• *1941 US produced 19,000 planes,1944- 96000)

– Am. Workforce- Am. Eager to work after the depression• Rosie the Riveter- 6 million women worked in factories to

produce weapons, planes, and other war materials (due to lack of men) made 65% of men (no child care) but glad to do their part– What do you think motivated women to work so hard for the

war effort?

Effects on Social life- conservation (saving) and rationing (limits) resources and goods (oil, sugar, rubber, meat, butter)

African-Americans- jobs with good wages available in factories• Great Migration- many blacks moved out of south to cities (esp. LA)

• Mexicans- Bracero Program- guest worker program allowing Mexicans to live in the US to provide necessary labor on farms

• “Cholos”- cool, young Mexicans who dressed in oversized, baggy suits (Why do you think Americans took such offense to Zoot Suits?)

– “Zoot Suit Riots”- servicemen in Los Angeles attacked and stripped the Cholos (Cholos were arrested)• Make an argument why US servicemen should not be harshly punished?

• Japanese Internment- 110,000 Japanese in the US were rounded up and sent to concentration camps

• Why do believe that Japanese Americans were targeted and not the other two? Why were Germans and Italians not treated the same way?– Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Americans were upset and

blamed all Japanese for the unprovoked attack– Racially different (smaller numbers) Too many Italian and

Germans (blended into US society- fought for US, so did Jap/Am)

• Japanese-American Reaction- accepted their situation, sold everything they had, and moved to internment camps– Nisei- 2/3’s of those arrested were native born Japanese-AMERICANS– 442 combat all Japanese-American unit most decorated unit of war (fought bravely

for US)• Why do you feel the Japanese accepted their situation? What could they have

done to change it?• Korematsu v. US- Supreme Court decision allowing the government to arrest Japanese-

Americans (violation of Jap./Am. civil rights and among worst court decisions ever!!!)– Evaluate if the US made the correct decision arresting Japanese-Americans to prevent spying and

sabotage during WWII. Explain