World War II and the American Homefront

Parallels Between Politics and Celebrity

  • Politicians sometimes involve famous people in politics.
  • Example: George Clooney interacted with Joe Biden.
  • Speculation about political maneuvering: Kamala Harris's rise and Biden's situation.

FDR's Pre-War Assurances and Actions

  • FDR tried to quell fears about getting involved in war, assuring parents, "Your boys are not gonna be sent into any foreign wars."
  • Accusation that FDR was lying to get reelected and was a warmonger seeking a moment to enter the war.
  • Comparison to Woodrow Wilson: Both presidents (Wilson in 1916, FDR in 1940) promised not to send troops to foreign wars but eventually involved the US in WWI and WWII, respectively.
  • FDR won another landslide victory (449 to 82) over Wilkie, maintaining Democratic control of Congress.
  • Reference to potential constitutional changes allowing a third term, reminiscent of Trump's comments, but FDR did win a third term, breaking Washington's precedent.

FDR's Four Freedoms Speech

  • Post-reelection, FDR gave his Four Freedoms speech, advocating for global freedom of speech, worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
  • He framed potential US involvement in the war as a means to secure these freedoms globally, using moral diplomacy.
  • Comparison to Wilson's aim to "make the world safe for democracy."
  • American people were still largely isolationist.

The Lend-Lease Act

  • FDR sought ways to aid allies without declaring war, leading to the Lend-Lease Act in March 1941.
  • The US would lend or lease arms to countries vital to US defense.
  • The Act was framed as providing allies with weapons without sending American soldiers.
  • It set US factories into overdrive, becoming the "great arsenal of democracy."
  • The motto: "We're sending guns, not sons."

Hitler's Mistake: Attacking the Soviet Union

  • Hitler broke the non-aggression pact with Stalin and attacked the Soviet Union, a turning point in the European war.
  • This was described as Hitler's biggest mistake, driven by arrogance.
  • Comparison to Robert E. Lee's overconfidence.
  • Analogy to Napoleon's failed invasion of Russia with the Russian cold winter and vast territory.
  • Operation Barbarossa: the attack on the Soviet Union. Why is it not smart to attack Russia?
    • Harsh Winters
    • Large Territory extending supply lines

US Support for the Soviet Union

  • The US decided to help the Soviets, viewing Hitler as a greater threat.
  • The US provided weapons and supplies to the Soviet Union through Lend-Lease.
  • Hitler viewed Lend-Lease as an unofficial declaration of war by the United States against Germany.

The Atlantic Conference and Charter

  • FDR and Churchill met secretly off the coast of Newfoundland (Atlantic Conference) to discuss the war.
  • Churchill urged FDR to join the war, but FDR cited lack of support, separation of powers.
  • FDR guaranteed to prioritize helping Britain/Europe over Asia if the US entered the war (Europe First).
  • They created the Atlantic Charter, an abbreviated version of Wilson's Fourteen Points:
    • Instead of the League of Nations, they planned to create the United Nations.

The Atlantic Charter's Principles

  • The Atlantic Charter promoted self-determination, free trade, freedom of the seas, disarmament of aggressor nations, etc.

Escalating Tensions with Germany and Japan

  • Due to Lend-Lease, Hitler ordered U-boats to attack American ships trading with allies.
  • The US returned to establishing convoys.
  • Subs were equipped with Sonar to detect submarines.
  • Japan officially joined the Axis powers in the Tripartite Pact (Germany, Italy, Japan).
  • The US imposed an embargo on Japan, stopping trade of steel and oil.

Pearl Harbor and US Entry into WWII

  • The US moved its Pacific fleet from San Diego/San Francisco to Pearl Harbor.
  • Emperor Hirohito and Tojo decided to attack Pearl Harbor in a sneak attack.
  • Tensions escalated through quarantines, embargoes, and the Tripartite Pact.
  • December 7, 1941: The attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States never saw it coming.

Racism and Ignorance Behind Pearl Harbor

  • Racism played a role; some believed the Japanese couldn't carry out an aerial assault due to the shape of Asian eyes.
  • The Japanese followed weather patterns (storms) and maintained radio silence, communicating with flags.
  • Aircraft carriers were not present at Pearl Harbor, fueling conspiracy theories but without hard proof.
  • Aircraft carriers were more important than battleships.

Aftermath of Pearl Harbor

  • USS Arizona battleship went down and still drips oil to this day.
  • FDR gave his "day of infamy" speech, asking Congress for war.

Jeannette Rankin's Dissent

  • Jeannette Rankin, the first female member of Congress, was the lone dissenter against declaring war on Japan. She was a pacifist.
  • The United States joined the Allies, and Germany/Italy declared war on the US.

Causes of American Involvement in WWII

  • The end of World War I and the Treaty of Versailles.
  • Aggression of imperialist countries.
  • Appeasement policies.
  • The attack on Pearl Harbor led to US involvement in the war.

America in World War II: The Home Front

  • The focus shifts to the impact of the war on different groups, the economy, and society.
  • Every American was called to rally behind the war effort.

Japanese Internment

  • Fear of espionage led to the internment of Japanese Americans via Executive Order 9066.
  • 120,000 people were forced from their homes; two-thirds were US citizens.
  • People were moved to camps in places like Arizona and Arkansas.
  • Comparison to Hitler's final solution, but the internment camps were not execution camps.

Life in Internment Camps

  • Internment camps were like prisons where they get to live in houses with a big fence around.
  • Some internees signed up for US military service to prove their patriotism.
  • There was some negative treatment of Germans and Italians, but not on the scale of the Japanese internment due to racism.

Korematsu v. US

  • The Supreme Court case Korematsu v. US (1944) upheld the legality of the internment, citing national security.
  • The Court decided if Japanese people pose a public threat, they can be imprisoned.
  • People's personal rights could be restricted if they pose a public threat.
  • Later, in 1988, President Reagan apologized for the internment and provided reparations.
  • Surviving members got $20,000 per person from the US government.

Mobilization for War

  • WWII mobilization was much larger than WWI. The United States would produce more goods than the rest of the world combined.
  • WWII was the most popular war in US history, with over 90% approval rates.

Propaganda and the Office of War Information (OWI)

  • Similar to the CPI in WWI, the OWI promoted propaganda to raise recruiting and patriotism.
  • Propaganda focused on hatred of the enemy, promoting public effort, rationing, and selling war bonds.
  • Our homes are now in danger.

Conversion to a Wartime Economy

  • Factories converted from peacetime to wartime production.
  • The War Production Board dictated what to make.
  • The US created 60% of all allied weapons.
  • The federal government regulated the economy (quasi-socialism).

Examples of Economic Conversion

  • Nonessential items like automobiles production stopped.
  • General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler made tanks.
  • Boeing created bombers and fighter jets.
  • Henry Ford's plant converted from automobile assembly to bomber assembly.
  • Chevrolet created amphibious assault vehicles.

Economic Growth and Decline of Unemployment

  • The US economy skyrocketed, growing 8% annually; between 1941 and 1943 it grew 17%.
  • The Gross National Product went from $91,000,000,000 to $213,000,000,000.
  • Unemployment dropped below 2% by 1944.

Factories and Production Efforts

  • Emphasis on building items right and contributing to victory over Axis powers.

Office of Price Administration (OPA)

  • The OPA set prices and established ceilings to prevent inflation.

Rationing

  • Individuals received ration books with coupons for certain goods.

Recycling

  • A big push was made on recycling metal, paper, and rubber.

Victory Gardens

  • Victory gardens reappeared from World War I.
  • Propaganda encouraged participation, even from DC Comics superheroes.

The National War Labor Board

  • The National War Labor Board aimed to ensure workforce stability.
  • Striking became illegal under the Smith-Connolly Anti-Strike Act.
  • The government could take over mines or railroads if needed.

No-Strike Pledges and Union Loyalty

  • Workers took no-strike pledges.
  • Union membership continued to increase, but most unions and most workers were loyal, there were very few strikes during the happy war.

The Sun Belt

  • The South began industrializing (the Sun Belt).
  • It saw growth in weapons manufacturing, aerospace, and factory systems.
  • The South was used for defense industry, aerospace, and electronics.
  • Sustained by Cold War spending on the military (the military-industrial complex).

Women in the Workforce: Rosie the Riveter

  • Rosie the Riveter represented women entering the workplace.
  • Before the war, 3,000,000 women were employed. By the end of the war, the tally was almost 20,000,000 women.
  • Women took over traditional male roles, but were still getting paid less.
  • After the war, women were expected to return home and focus on domesticity.
  • The Baby Boom came after the war.

Women in the Military

  • Women could join the military as WACs (Women's Army Corps) or WAVEs (Women in the Navy) but could not fight in combat.

Mexican Americans and the Bracero Program

  • The repatriation program ended, and the Bracero program brought Mexicans into the country as laborers.
  • Over 4,000,000 Mexican border crossings for workers who were provided with good health care, good housing, good wages.

Zoot Suit Riots

  • The zoot suit riots occurred in Los Angeles due to anger over flashy styles perceived as unpatriotic.