World War II: MOBILIZATION [APUSH Review Unit 7 Topic 12] Period 7: 1898-1945

Summary

In this video, Heimler explains how U.S. participation in World War II transformed American society. He discusses the economic impact of wartime mobilization, including the shift from the Great Depression to economic growth through massive federal spending. The video highlights the increased role of women and minority groups, like Black and Mexican Americans, in the workforce and military. It also touches on the darker aspects of wartime policies, such as Japanese American internment, and the case of Korematsu v. United States. The video aims to provide an engaging overview of how WWII reshaped the U.S. socially and economically.

Takeaways

• 😀 The bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 ended America's isolation and led to U.S. participation in World War II.
• 😀 World War II was a total war, requiring the mobilization of all U.S. resources, both military and domestic.
• 😀 Federal spending during the war increased by 1000%, which helped pull the U.S. out of the Great Depression.
• 😀 The War Production Board and Office of War Mobilization converted civilian factories to produce wartime materials like planes, tanks, and munitions.
• 😀 The U.S. faced a labor shortage as men went off to war, prompting campaigns to recruit women into the workforce, symbolized by Rosie the Riveter.
• 😀 Black Americans participated in the war effort and fought for racial equality at home through the Double V Campaign, despite racial segregation in the military.
• 😀 The Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American pilots, earned recognition for their bravery and excellence in combat during the war.
• 😀 Approximately 300,000 Mexican Americans served in the military, and the Bracero Program allowed Mexican workers to fill labor shortages in agriculture.
• 😀 The Selective Service Act of 1940 initiated the first peacetime draft in U.S. history, which enabled the military to enlist millions.
• 😀 A dark chapter of the war was the internment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans, who were forcibly relocated to camps despite being U.S. citizens.
• 😀 The Supreme Court case Korematsu v. United States (1944) upheld the internment of Japanese Americans as a wartime necessity, a decision later criticized and formally apologized for in 1988.

Q & A

How did the bombing of Pearl Harbor affect America's position in World War II?

The bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan marked the end of American isolationism, leading the U.S. to enter World War II and fully engage in the conflict.

What is the concept of 'total war' as it applies to World War II?

'Total war' refers to a nation's complete mobilization of its resources, including both military and domestic sectors, to fight the war. World War II was a total war, similar to World War I.

How did World War II help end the Great Depression in the United States?

World War II led to an increase in federal spending, which boosted industrial production and raised the GDP by 15%, effectively pulling the U.S. out of the Great Depression.

What role did women play in the workforce during World War II?

With men enlisting in the military, women were encouraged to work in factories to fill labor shortages. Government campaigns, like the iconic 'Rosie the Riveter' poster, promoted women as essential workers for the war effort.

How did the mobilization for World War II affect the U.S. labor market?

Mobilization led to a labor shortage as men left for the military, prompting the government to encourage women and other groups, like Black and Mexican Americans, to take on factory and wartime production jobs.

What was the Double V Campaign, and what did it aim to achieve?

The Double V Campaign was a movement that encouraged Black Americans to fight for both victory in World War II and victory against racism at home, highlighting the importance of equality while supporting the war effort.

How were Black Americans involved in World War II, and what challenges did they face?

Over a million Black Americans served in the military during World War II, but they faced segregation in the armed forces. Despite this, some regiments, like the Tuskegee Airmen, distinguished themselves in combat.

What was the significance of the Selective Service Act of 1940?

The Selective Service Act of 1940 was the first peacetime draft in U.S. history, ensuring that the U.S. had enough soldiers to enter World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

What was Executive Order 9066, and how did it impact Japanese Americans?

Executive Order 9066, issued in 1942, allowed the U.S. government to forcibly relocate over 100,000 Japanese Americans, including U.S. citizens, to internment camps on the West Coast due to wartime fears of espionage.

What was the outcome of the Korematsu v. United States case?

In the Korematsu v. United States case of 1944, the Supreme Court ruled that the Japanese American internment was constitutional due to 'martial necessity.' However, the decision was controversial, and reparations were later offered to those affected.