American Home Front During World War II

Vocabulary flashcards covering major terms, policies, and social changes discussed in the lecture on the American home front during World War II.

Pearl Harbor Attack

Japanese surprise strike on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, bringing the United States into World War II.

Rationing

Government-controlled system limiting civilian consumption of scarce goods—such as gasoline, meat, butter, and clothing—through ration cards during WWII.

Victory Gardens

Homegrown fruit and vegetable plots cultivated by Americans to supplement rationed food supplies and support the war effort.

Scrap Drives

Community campaigns to collect and recycle metal, rubber, and other materials needed for wartime manufacturing.

War Bonds

Savings bonds sold by the U.S. government to finance the war and curb inflation by removing money from circulation.

Rosie the Riveter

Iconic poster figure symbolizing women who took on factory and industrial jobs while men served in the military.

Women’s Workforce Participation

Movement of more than six million American women into manufacturing and other roles to fill the labor gap left by 16 million enlisted men.

War Production Boom

Rapid expansion of U.S. factories to produce munitions, equipment, and food, creating widespread employment during WWII.

Sun Belt Industrial Growth

Rise of manufacturing centers in Southern California and the broader Southern United States spurred by wartime production needs.

Home Front Entertainment

Continuation of baseball, movies, and other pastimes to maintain civilian and troop morale despite wartime austerity.

Executive Order 9066

1942 directive issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorizing the removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.

Japanese American Internment

Forcible relocation and incarceration of about 120,000 Japanese Americans in desert camps from 1942 to 1945.

Inflation Control

Economic measure in which rationing and war-bond purchases limited consumer spending to stabilize prices during WWII.

Post-War Effects on Women and Industry

Long-lasting changes in gender roles and industrial growth that persisted well after the war ended in 1945.

Red Guards

Youth militias in Maoist China that humiliated and attacked perceived political enemies during the Cultural Revolution.