Final Project, History 2100, Spring 2017, William Paterson University

1. The United States Home Front
During WWII

2. On the morning of December 7, 1941, The United States was attacked by Japanese
pilots in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally
declared war on Japan, Germany, and Italy bringing the U.S. into World War II.
Although reluctant to enter a second world war after the Great Depression the
American people managed to put efforts in overseas and at home to win the war.
The United States Homefront during WW II helped to end the war by community and
civilian efforts, women joining the workforce, and the growth of the defense
industry.

4. During the early stages of the war, Americans at home had increased fear of
another attack on U.S. soil in the pacific or even the mainland. This fear
motivated everyday citizens and communities to do whatever they could,
ultimately they had to sacrifice for victory. By the spring of 1942 the Federal
Government started The Rationing Program. The program was used to
control supply and demand, to ensure that supplies for troops were
managed, and to prevent civilian anger with shortages. Citizens had to give
up some material goods and others had set limits on the amount of gas,
food and clothing they could purchase.

6. Families were issued ration stamps that were used to buy everything from meat,
sugar, fat, butter, vegetables and fruit to gas, tires, clothing and oil (History). Soon
individuals turned to clubs and organizations dedicated to help rationing and
collecting resources. Drives for things like scrap metal, food, and rubber became
common to accumulate supplies to build up the military. Other ways Americans
helped the war effort were by purchasing war bonds, working in production factories,
or just by living the motto “do with less so they’ll have enough”.

8. With about 10 million men drafted in WWII and a high demand for factory work in
the defense industry more women were brought into production factories around
the country. Women in the work force increased from 10.8 million in March of
1941 to 18 million by August of 1944 (Miller). These women got jobs as welders,
riveters, and electricians in the defense plants. During the war, women
employment rose from 25% to 36% (History). Women also helped overseas with
350,000 women serving in the armed forces with jobs like nurses or pilots and in
other positions to help stateside.

10. During WWII production in the defense industry skyrocketed due to high demand
for planes, tanks, trucks, and ships for the military. Government spending on
military peaked during WWII at 41% GDP about $315 billion (Koistinen). President
Roosevelt created the War Production Board in 1942, then in 1943 the Office of
War Mobilization to raise money for defense. The government relied on the
American people to ration certain commodities, increase tax revenue by lowering
the personal exemption and selling government war bonds to citizens and
financial institutions (Pbs). This spending created jobs and workers by creating a
high demand for defense and by bringing more women into the industrial work
force than ever before.

12. WWII at home and abroad was a defining moment in United States
history, proving our adaptability and strength as a nation. The home
front helped make it happen through patriotism and rationing in
communities, women joining the workforce, and through the massive
expansion in defense production. American support and patriotism was
what won us the war whether it was on ration lines or on the front lines.

13. Bibliography
 History. "The U.S. Home Front During World War II.“ Last modified 2010.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii.
Accessed March 21, 2017.
 Koistinen, A. C. Paul. "Mobilizing the World War II Economy: Labor and the Industrial-
Military Alliance." Pacific Historical Review 42, no. 4 (1973): 443-78.
doi:10.2307/3638133.
 Miller, Marc. "Working Women and World War II." The New England Quarterly 53, no. 1
(1980): 42-61. doi:10.2307/365288.
 PBS. "War Production.“ Last modified September 2007.
http://www.pbs.org/thewar/at_home_war_production.htm. Accessed March 21, 2017.