Page 1
Name:______________________________________________ Date:_______________ Class:____________
The Home Front: World War II
Pearl Harbor Backfires on Japan
- Japan believed that attacking Pearl Harbor would intimidate the USA and stop them from
challenging their conquest of the Pacific.
- However, the opposite occurred. Many Americans wanted to be neutral in foreign conflicts,
until Pearl Harbor. After the attack, five million volunteered for military service.
- _________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Minorities and World War II
- Women were able to serve as noncombatants in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps
(WAAC). Women served as nurses, factory workers, and other noncombatant roles.
- Many African American leaders, like A. Philip Randolph, were concerned that African
American men would be dying for a nation that treated them unjustly through segregation.
- _________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
The Nation Increases Production
- American factories were redesigned for war. For instance, Car factories made tanks and
bottling companies added ammunition to missiles.
- _________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
- A. Phillip Randolph threated to march over 100,000 people in Washington D.C. to protest, if
the war industry efforts discriminated. FDR desegregated the war industry sector as a result.
This was a major victory for Civil Rights.
The Economy and World War II
- The industrial activity needed to create supplies for the war eventually brought the USA out
of the Great Depression.
- Despite the improved economy, the War Production Board (WPB) heavily rationed
materials. This entity converted many factories to make war supplies.
- _________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
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All Rights Reserved.
Page 2
Japanese Internment Camps
- Many Japanese people lived in the USA when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Massive
prejudice arose and Japanese Americans were accused of helping Japan.
- _________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
- There was never evidence of wrong doing or even charges given to these citizens. This
was a radically unjust, racist action taken by the United States government.
After World War II
- When the war ended, the USA was forever changed. The massive economic endeavors
ended the Great Depression.
- Not only did the war efforts end the Great Depression, but the economy became radically
reinvigorated and America entered into a very prosperous era.
- _________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com
All Rights Reserved.
Page 3
Name:______________________________________________ Date:_______________ Class:____________
FULL NOTES:
The Home Front: World War II
Pearl Harbor Backfires on Japan
- Japan believed that attacking Pearl Harbor would intimidate the USA and stop them from
challenging their conquest of the Pacific.
- However, the opposite occurred. Many Americans wanted to be neutral in foreign conflicts,
until Pearl Harbor. After the attack, five million volunteered for military service.
- The Selective Service Act brought this number up to ten million soldiers. America was ready
to fight back against the Axis Powers. Together the USA, France, Britain, the USSR, and
China formed the Allies.
Minorities and World War II
- Women were able to serve as noncombatants in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps
(WAAC). Women served as nurses, factory workers, and other noncombatant roles.
- Many African American leaders, like A. Philip Randolph, were concerned that African
American men would be dying for a nation that treated them unjustly through segregation.
- Despite the unfair treatment, more than one million African Americans served in World War
II. After WW II, many Civil Rights leaders pointed to the brave sacrifice of African Americans
to demand Civil Rights for all.
The Nation Increases Production
- American factories were redesigned for war. For instance, Car factories made tanks and
bottling companies added ammunition to missiles.
- Many Americans found work in this new war industry. Like in WW I, millions of women
began working in factories to make war supplies.
- A. Phillip Randolph threated to march over 100,000 people in Washington D.C. to protest, if
the war industry efforts discriminated. FDR desegregated the war industry sector as a result.
This was a major victory for Civil Rights.
The Economy and World War II
- The industrial activity needed to create supplies for the war eventually brought the USA out
of the Great Depression.
- Despite the improved economy, the War Production Board (WPB) heavily rationed
materials. This entity converted many factories to make war supplies.
- Americans had to practice rationing. Food, fuel, textiles, and other goods were in limited
supply, so that these items could be sent to soldiers fighting in the war effort.
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All Rights Reserved.
Page 4
Japanese Internment Camps
- Many Japanese people lived in the USA when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Massive
prejudice arose and Japanese Americans were accused of helping Japan.
- Over 100,000 people of Japanese descent, many of which were American citizens, were
taken from their homes in California and other states and forced into internment camps.
- There was never evidence of wrong doing or even charges given to these citizens. This
was a radically unjust, racist action taken by the United States government.
After World War II
- When the war ended, the USA was forever changed. The massive economic endeavors
ended the Great Depression.
- Not only did the war efforts end the Great Depression, but the economy became radically
reinvigorated and America entered into a very prosperous era.
- Congress passed the GI Bill of Rights for returning soldiers. This bill paid for college for
those who wished to attend. This led to a surge in college attendance in the USA.
Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com
All Rights Reserved.