Homefront:
The homefront was what people would do back in the united states to support the war. Labor. The unemployment problem ended.
Women also joined the work force. Changed the way women were viewed in society. Roosevelt said personal sacrifice was key. Labor shortages were felt in agriculture. Some schools were closed at harvest time so students could work. Prisoners of war were used as farm laborers. In the factories its mostly women working on the machines.
Rosie the Riveter. Became the symbol of women laboring manufacturing. Women took new jobs and replaced male workers. Rosie the Riveter resembled a real woman, rose will Monroe. The term was first used in 1942 in a song. Women returned to housework after the war. Many women wanted to keep doing factory work.
Rationing. A rationing system was begun. Rationing ensured people got their fair share. Ration books were issued. Designated how much stuff people could buy. Tires were the first item to be rationed. Japan seized US plantations in the pacific that made 90% of our rubber. Across the country over 8000 rationing boards were created. Boards that basically set the rations.
Controls on the economy. Many controls were put on the economy. Most important were price controls. Price controls were put on products. They were monitered by the office of price administration. Wages were also controlled. The military imposed priorities that said what to make.
Propaganda. Hollywood studios went all out for the war effort. The finest films from the era are about the war. Casablanca, Mrs. Miniver, and Going My Way. Cartoons and were a major sign of the times. Reminded people of things like rationing. Disney remade the story of the three little pigs. Practical Pig’s house was made of war bonds.
War bonds. Financed military. 185 billion dollars worth of bonds were sold. 85 million Americans bought the bonds.
Japanese American internment. The American government force 110,000 japanese Americans to move to internment camps. This meant that no Japanese could live on the pacific coast. The American government eventually had to pay the Japanese Americans 1.6 billion dollars.
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