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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1941WORLDWARII1945homefront 1941WORLD W A R I I 1 9 4 5  "One ont and one bale where everyone in the United States - every man, woman, and child - is in action. at ont is right here at home, in our daily lives." President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, April 1942 Americans displayed varying aitudes toward the global war before 7 December 1941. Disillusioned by their experience in “the War to End All Wars” of 1917-1918, some believed that America should stay out of this Second World War. Others thought in ideological and moral terms, perceiving Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan as evil. Axis nations rejected governing by fair laws, displayed glaring racism, and perpetrated violence on ethnic and religious groups. By contrast, the United States, when at its best, governed honestly by representative democracy, treated people equally under law, espoused religious toleration, and recognized individual achievement based on merit. oughtful Americans had to concede that some of their fellow citizens also showed aspects of racism or anti-Semitism. Nevertheless, as the Axis powers plunged Asia and Europe into war, many in the United States recognized the growing danger to capitalism and American ideals. In January 1941 Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a speech to Congress stating America’s commitment to “Four Freedoms”—freedom from want, freedom of worship, freedom of speech, and freedom from fear. American illustrator Norman Rockwell painted four pictures perfectly expressing America’s high- mindedness. At the Atlantic Charter con- ference in August 1941, Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that the “Four Freedoms” were Allied goals. e sudden Japanese aack on Pearl Harbor and Germany’s declaration of war unied America against fascism. Everyone asked, “Don’t You Know ere’s a War On?” People collected newspapers, old pots and pans, tin cans, and scrap metals to be recycled by war industries. Growing vegetables at home in “Victory Gardens” meant families would “Plant the Seeds of Victory.” Newspa- pers and magazines admonished all to “Remem- ber Pearl Harbor!” Banners hung in the win- dows of countless houses and apartments: Blue Stars represented someone in military service from that home; Silver Stars represented a family member wounded in action, Gold Stars signied that a veteran had been killed. To win the war Americans of all racial, ethnic, and reli- gious backgrounds developed a sense of common purpose. To maintain national morale, federal o - cials decided that small pleasures were essential. ese included chewing gum, paper - back books, beer, ice cream, “Coca-Cola” so drinks, ciga - rees, and movies. Holly - wood had to answer the question, “will this movie help win the war?” Aen - dance soared at cinemas. Federal censors examined movie scripts to guarantee on-screen images favorable to America and the Allies. Censors edited information for theater newsreels, newspa- pers, and radio reports. Music joined the war eort. Songs such as “Remember Pearl Harbor,” “Any Bonds Today?” “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” and “Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer” inspired patriotism. “I’ll be Seeing You,” “It’s Been a Long, Long Time,” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” evoked many tears. Demographic changes required adjust- ments. Sixteen million men and women of all races and ethnicities served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the war. Military bases sprang up across the nation, especially in the South, where warm weather allowed more training days. In- dustrial demands and job prospects aracted mil - lions of African-Americans from the South to the West Coast and the Midwest. e National Labor Relations Board kept strikes to a minimum, but population shis caused tensions, social unrest and ethnic violence in cities like Detroit and Chicago. In Los Ange- les, violent altercations occurred between white servicemen and Hispanic men wearing amboyant “zoot suits.” Pushing against segregation and dis- crimination, African -Americans and Hispan- ics sought to vote in elections, buy houses, rent apartments, enroll in schools, and get jobs. African-Americans conducted the “Double V” campaign—victory against racism at home and victory over the Axis abroad. Wartime aected women in many ways. Six million women worked outside their homes. J. Howard Miller’s famous poster shows a woman laborer rolling up her sleeves, announcing “We Can Do It!” Women lled jobs on farms and in oces, hospitals, shipyards, and industries. Another popular Norman Rockwell illustration, “Rosie the Riveter,” pictures a strong, capable woman industrial worker. In their jobs women had to overcome discrimination, doubts about their work, and sexual harassment. A poster revealed the opinion of many men: “Good Work Sister. We Never Figured You Could Do a Man-Size Job!” e Women’s Army Corps (WACs), led by Col. Oveta Culp Hobby of Houston, Texas, received assignments mostly in America but some WACs went overseas. Women also served in the Navy WAVES (Women Accepted/Voluntary Emergency Service) and the Marine Corps reserve. Trained at Sweetwater, Texas (near Abilene), WASPS—Women Airforce Service Pilots—ew all sorts of military airplanes from one aireld to another within the U.S.A. By 1945 women had made vital contributions to the On the other hand, Roosevelt acknowledged the distress of Americans who feared sabotage or a Japanese aack on California. In one of the most controversial acts of any president, in February 1942, he gave orders to uproot and detain 78,000 U.S. citizens of Japanese ethnicity and 42,000 Japanese citizens residing in America. e federal War Relocation Authority allowed detainees to pack only a few belongings and many hastily sold their houses and businesses. e government interned them in relocation camps for the duration of the war—but allowed thousands of Japanese American men to show their patriotism by enlisting in the U.S. Army. Curiously, there were no mass arrests of the 150,000 Japanese Americans in Hawaii and no discrimination against Italian Americans or German Americans, though the U.S. government also arrested and interned many Italian and German citizens. e war intruded into daily life. Ubiquitous in schools, busi- nesses, post oces, and factories, posters printed by the federal gov- ernment warned, encouraged, and inspired. Men, women, and chil- dren dealt with shortages and govern- ment rationing of everything—foods, metals, paper, clothes, tires, and gasoline. A poster declared “Swap Rides—Save Gas and Tires.” Filling stations required drivers to display windshield stickers to buy gas and police enforced a 35-mph speed limit. Natural re- sources needed protection: “Careless Matches Aid the Axis—Prevent Forest Fires.” ose with special knowledge must not reveal secrets: “Loose Lips Sink Ships.” To help nance the war, school children competed to ll booklets of war savings stamps. Adults bought war bonds at work, at movie theaters, and at post oces, where a poster reminded them: “Smash the Axis! Pay Your Taxes!”  war eort in countless ways. Civilians adapted to millions of veterans re- turning home. In 1944 Congress passed the mo- mentous G.I. Bill to provide education benets and employment assistance to veterans. Millions of veterans gained an education and rose to the middle class. e Veterans’ Administration (established in 1921 aer World War I) operated hospitals to help those with wounds or psycho- logical distress. Hollywood movies revealed veter- ans coping with wounds (“Pride of the Marines,” 1945), anti-Semitism (“Crossre,” 1947), and racism (“Bright Victory,” 1951). Many Ameri- cans decided that “e Best Years of Our Lives” (1946) eectively represented how veterans dealt with wounds, bouts of depression, marital dicul - ties, and nding a job in the topsy-turvy postwar economy. For most Americans the Home Front’s legacy meant patriotism and sincere memories of na- tional unity and actions that contributed to Allied victory. Along with those recollections many came to realize that World War II unexpectedly set signicant domestic changes in motion. Women and minorities had proved they capably worked at all kinds of jobs. Many African-Americans moved from the rural South to big cities elsewhere. Civil rights and social issues gained increasing aention and citizens pushed for equality regarding access to education, housing, jobs, hotels, theaters, and restaurants. Joseph G. Dawson III, PhD Texas A&M University “e Four Freedoms” posters by Norman Rockwell, 1943. V-mail om the ont was photographed, reduced and sent home on lm in order to save on weight, paper, and fuel. Finella, “Fi,” the symbol for the WASPs, designed by Walt Disney.Window ag displayed by families with family members in service. Gold stars signied a service member who had been killed, silver: wounded, and blue: currently serving. Civil Air Patrol at Easterwood Air Field, College Station, Texas, c. 1942. Hospital Apprentice 2nd Class Marie Benne Alsmeyer. American & H o m e F r o n t C a m p a i g n s Col. Oveta Culp Hobby, director of the Women’s Army Corps. Aican-American women joined in the Home Front eort. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt 1933 - 1945 Portrait by Frank O. Salisbury United States 48-star ag AMERICAN CAMPAIGN Antisubmarine 1941 - 1945 Blue represents the Americas; white and black refers to the German part of the conict; red and white refers to the Japanes part of the conict on the Pcic coast. © 2010 e Memorial for all Veterans of the Brazos Valley, Inc.Le-Write Ink Rosie the Riveter poster by J. Howard Miller.