American Workers: To win the war the United States needed a large amount of materials such as airplanes, tanks, ships, and guns. The Unites States workers had a large part in all of these things being made and handed off to the soldiers. During World War II many of the workers were women. Thousands of men were leaving for war and someone needed to take over the jobs they left behind and the jobs that were made to make the various weapons and other materials to keep the soldiers safe. These jobs use to be strictly for men and women weren't allowed to do them, but in the time of need they were allowed to take on roles they previously had never been able to. This is where Rosie the Riveter came from. Rosie was women that encouraged women to go and get jobs during the war. The percentage of women in not war related jobs increased also. The number of women in jobs in general increased from 25% to 36%.
Japanese Americans: Sadly after Pearl Harbor not all Americans were discovering how they could help the war effort. All Japanese descendants who resided in the West Coast had to be imprisoned. This was form a mixture of wartime panic and rascism. Many Americans were afriad that all of those from Japanese backgrounds, even those who had never known anything but the United States, would betray America and help the Japanese attack the United States. Nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans were sent to relocation camps. They also had to get rid of their homes and businesses before they left. Despite the way that the Japanese Americans were being treated many of the young Japanese American men were fighting in the war alongside many other Americans.
Culture and War: Roosevelt would not allow baseball to stop during the war since he thought it would boost morale. Even though baseball wasn't on a break many of the players stopped playing baseball and instead joined the military resulting in many of the baseball players being disable, such as the one-armed outfielder. During this same time many of the movies being made were about the war. Even the cartoons were war related such as the one with Donald Duck where they made fun of Hitler. Some movies also focused on the women who were waiting at home for those who had left to go to war. Even movie stars were off to war. Many songs and radio dramas were focused on the war efforts and boosting morale in the American people during a trying time.
Sacrifices for War: Many Americans were afraid that Japan could easily attack and harm them so they were willing to sacrifice a lot for their piece of mind. During 1942 a rationing program was started. This program set limits on the amount of gas they could use, the amount of food they could buy, and the amount of clothing they could buy. Families got ration stamps that they had to use if they wanted to purchase anything. Posters started being put up that said things like "Do with less so they'll have enough" obviously referring to the soldiers. People also were all working on getting and recycling old metals to produce more war material.
Japanese Americans: Sadly after Pearl Harbor not all Americans were discovering how they could help the war effort. All Japanese descendants who resided in the West Coast had to be imprisoned. This was form a mixture of wartime panic and rascism. Many Americans were afriad that all of those from Japanese backgrounds, even those who had never known anything but the United States, would betray America and help the Japanese attack the United States. Nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans were sent to relocation camps. They also had to get rid of their homes and businesses before they left. Despite the way that the Japanese Americans were being treated many of the young Japanese American men were fighting in the war alongside many other Americans.
Culture and War: Roosevelt would not allow baseball to stop during the war since he thought it would boost morale. Even though baseball wasn't on a break many of the players stopped playing baseball and instead joined the military resulting in many of the baseball players being disable, such as the one-armed outfielder. During this same time many of the movies being made were about the war. Even the cartoons were war related such as the one with Donald Duck where they made fun of Hitler. Some movies also focused on the women who were waiting at home for those who had left to go to war. Even movie stars were off to war. Many songs and radio dramas were focused on the war efforts and boosting morale in the American people during a trying time.
Sacrifices for War: Many Americans were afraid that Japan could easily attack and harm them so they were willing to sacrifice a lot for their piece of mind. During 1942 a rationing program was started. This program set limits on the amount of gas they could use, the amount of food they could buy, and the amount of clothing they could buy. Families got ration stamps that they had to use if they wanted to purchase anything. Posters started being put up that said things like "Do with less so they'll have enough" obviously referring to the soldiers. People also were all working on getting and recycling old metals to produce more war material.