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War Efforts
U.S. War Efforts
Many of the same efforts used in World War I were utilized during WWII to raise money, reorganize industry, and boost morale. Victory War bonds were sold to raise money for the war effort. Everything revolved around "V" for victory over the axis powers.
"War bonds Don't Let That Shadow Touch Them" by Lawrence B. Smith, 1942. Produced for the Government Printing Office for the U.S. Treasury. American children are threatened by the shadow of the swastika. Photo credit: National Archives and Records Administration.
"This is a V Home" poster | Public domain
Wartime Popular Culture
Modern war required industrialization and the United States was up to the task. Companies re-equipped their factories to make military goods for the Allies. Morale was high. Americans were eager to defend the attack on our country (the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese). The Great Depression was over! Nearly 19 million jobs were created due to wartime production. The wartime economy expanded and the baby boom (the dramatic increase in the birth rate during and after WWII) began along with major population shifts to areas where war industry jobs were plentiful.
Public domain
Books and Movies
Themes of patriotism and confidence were found throughout popular culture and entertainment. A huge new market was developed for small-size paperback books by DeGraff during WWII. The paperback books helped save materials and were small enough for soldiers to fit in their pockets on the battlefield.
In addition, 60% of the population went to the movies every week to watch movies that often had themes of patriotism and hope. Casablanca was one of the most famous movies during this time.
Casablanca movie poster
Everybody Joins the U.S. War Effort
Newsreels showing brave soldiers in action and proud Americans supporting the war effort at home were played before each movie to boost patriotism. Movie stars also found many ways to support the war effort. In this photograph, movie star and "pin-up" girl Rita Hayworth is shown "harvesting a bumper crop for Uncle Sam."
Baseball
Do you notice anything unusual about the professional baseball player pictured below?
Pete Gray got the opportunity to play baseball professionally despite only having only one arm during a time when most Americans did not realize the president (FDR) couldn't walk. Accommodations for physical disabilities were not often made during this time. So, why did Pete Gray get the opportunity to play? During the war, 4,000 of the 5,700 major and minor league baseball players were serving in the armed forces. Someone had to play baseball because Americans still flocked to the games for their favorite past-time.
The All-American Girls' Softball League (Baseball League) gave women the opportunity to play ball professionally for the first time during WWII.
Sophie Kurys
Popular Music
Music was another form of entertainment that supported the war effort. Popular songs encouraged hope and patriotism.
Listen to "A Slip of the Lip (Can Sink A Ship)" by Duke Ellington.
Enlisting Public Support
War is never easy no matter how much a country is unified. When nearly citizen knows someone who was serving, wounded, or killed overseas, it can be tough to keep morale high. Therefore, the government set up programs to help keep morale high. In June of 1942, the Office of War Information was started to work with the media to create patriotic posters and ads. Its purpose was to maintain morale, patriotism, and participation in the war effort.
These Colors Won't Run, Remember Peari Harbor, 1941-1945. Image courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.
The Office of War Information also tried to keep American morale high by utilizing pro-war propaganda.
Shortages and Controls
Citizens on the home front supplied the fighting forces with an awesome array of ships, trucks, tanks, planes, and guns. At the same time, they endured shortages and government controls on scarce items to assure the soldiers had plenty. The Office of Price Administration (OPA) began rationing, or distributing goods to consumers in fixed amounts, in 1941. Ration books with coupons were given to families for products in limited supply like gas, rubber, meat, coffee, and sugar.
Example ration book
Victory Gardens
Americans adapted to rationing by growing food at home. These home gardens known as victory gardens produced 1/3 of the country's fresh vegetables. The idea of victory gardens started during WWI, although the WWII victory gardens had a much bigger impact.
Scrap Drives
With rubber, metal, and silk in high demand, Americans, including children, donated these products to the U.S. scrap metal campaigns or scrap drives. Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops also participated, giving children an important role to play in the war effort.
"She says the government can have her zipper, if the government can get it un-jammed!", published by PM Magazine on October 1, 1942, Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230. Special Collections 6 Archives, UC San Diego Library From: Dr. Seuss Collection, MSS 230
Women and the War
In a very real sense, the outcome of the war in Europe and Asia depended on America's ability to produce sufficient arms and ammunition. The federal government thus assumed extensive authority over the economy. With 16 million Americans serving in the military, the job of manufacturing the supplies for war fell in large part to the wives, mothers, and sisters of the soldiers.
The more women at work the sooner we win! Poster by the U.S. Employment Service, WWII, 1943. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Rosie the Riveter was a fictional young woman portrayed in posters and recruitment films to encourage women to work in a defense plant. The image of Rosie the Riveter became the most recognizable symbol of women who worked in the defense industries during World War II.
'We Can Do It!' by J. Howard Miller. Poster used by the War Production Co-ordinating Committee | Public domain
In 1936, 82% of the people polled believed that married women shouldn't work. Things changed considerably for women during the war. At one point in the war, women made up 35% of the total civilian workforce.
"Do the job he left behind." Poster used by the U.S. Employment Services | Public domain
Though WWII created opportunities for women, they faced problems in the workforce including: lower wages than men, no seniority, responsibilities at home, and post-war jobs reserved for the returning soldiers.
Courtesy of the National Museum of American History | Public domain
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