USA and WWII

• Involvement in Europe:

  • US forces played a key role in the D-Day landings (June 1944), with General Dwight D. Eisenhower as the Supreme Commander.
  • After D-Day, US forces helped advance on Germany, crossing the River Rhine in March 1945. Soviet forces captured Berlin in April 1945
• Involvement in the Pacific:

  • The Battle of Midway (June 1942) marked a turning point, with the US fleet defeating Japan.
  • The US adopted an "island-hopping" strategy, retaking territory in the Pacific to advance toward Japan.
  • Despite Japan’s defeats, they refused unconditional surrender until the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, ending the war.
• Political Effects:

  • The federal government expanded its control over people's lives:
  • Smith Act (1940) made it illegal to advocate the overthrow of the government, later used against Communists.
  • Selective Service Act (1940) introduced conscription.
  • Office of War Mobilization (1943) controlled goods and prices, and the War Management Commission recruited workers.
  • Office of Scientific Research and Development developed new weapons and medical technologies.
  • The Office of Price Administration froze prices and rationed items like petrol, coffee, and sugar.
• Economic Effects:

  • War production played a significant role in economic recovery:
  • The USA produced vast amounts of military equipment, including 86,000 tanks, 296,000 aircraft, and 15 million rifles.
  • Unemployment dropped to 1.2% by 1944 (from 14.6% in 1940).
  • GNP grew from $91.3 billion in 1939 to $166.6 billion by 1945.
  • Farm income increased by 250%.
  • Women entered the workforce in large numbers, with 6.5 million joining by 1944.
  • African American employment in the federal government grew from 50,000 in 1939 to 200,000 by 1944.
  • Despite inflation (28% rise in prices), wages increased by 40%, helping to fuel the post-war economic boom.
  • The war led to a rise in the national debt, from $41 billion in 1941 to $260 billion in 1945.
  • Roosevelt increased taxes, with the highest earners paying 94% tax, contributing to greater income equality.
• Women:

  • The number of female workers grew from 13 million in 1940 to 19 million by 1944.
  • Many women worked in traditionally male occupations (e.g., shipyards, munitions), but faced discrimination.
  • At the end of the war, many women returned to traditional roles, with unequal pay continuing (women earned 50-60% of men’s wages).
• African Americans:

  • Increased optimism for change during the war, but many still faced discrimination.
  • African Americans were employed in menial jobs, with an average annual wage of $537 (compared to $1,170 for whites).
  • The Double V Campaign called for victory against both fascism abroad and racial inequality at home.
  • The March on Washington Movement led by A. Philip Randolph aimed to end discrimination in war industries and the armed forces, leading to Executive Order 8802, which established the Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC).
  • The FEPC helped address employment discrimination, achieving success in 62-66% of cases.
  • African American soldiers faced racism and were often given inferior roles, though the Tuskegee Airmen were successful as an all-Black fighter squadron.
• Treatment of Japanese Americans:

  • Japanese Americans were interned in camps after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, with 100,000 forced into relocation centers under poor conditions.
  • In 1944, the Supreme Court forbade internment of loyal Japanese Americans, though resentment persisted.
• The Navy:

  • African American sailors faced discrimination, with the most dangerous tasks (e.g., loading ammunition) assigned to them.
  • The Port Chicago Mutiny (1944), after an explosion killed 323 sailors, led to protests and calls for better treatment of Black sailors.
  • The Navy began desegregating after this incident, which eventually contributed to wider desegregation efforts in 1946.