Roosevelt's Leadership During WWII
Jadyn Ballard
War Bonds
Millions of Americans lent the government money to help fund the war. They would buy the bonds and then received the interest back after a certain amount of years. This helped considerably, but in six years the national debt was at $269 billion.
Rationing and Victory Gardens
Americans were issued coupon books that controlled what they could and could not buy Rationing made sure that there was enough rubber, gasoline, and food items (milk, sugar, butter, meat, etc.) for the war. One way people coped with the rationing was by building "victory gardens" in their yards and communities. By 1943, over 20 million gardens were being implemented.
Rationing
There were rations on milk, sugar, butter, meat, vegetables, rubber, and numerous other things because the U.S. had to feed our army as well as our Allies' armies.
Women in WWII
World War Two also brought a great social change to America. Women and African Americans joined the workforce for heavy industry jobs and were respected for helping with the war.
War Bonds
The United States needed as much money as it could get from it's citizens, to fund the war.
Office of War Information
The United States developed a government agency called the Office of War Information (OWI) during World War II for the purpose of distributing propaganda at home and abroad. The OWI operated 1942 to 1945.
Industrial Production Changes
With most able bodied men fighting over seas, the United States had to fill the jobs being left behind. Jobs in heavy industry, such as assembling tanks, artillery, and other things were now needed to be produced quickly. Many women (six million) and African Americans filled these jobs and began to lay aside old stereotypes. The economy was also doing better and American was lifted out of the economic depression it was in. However. many employers expected them to just step to the side when soldiers got back from war. Employment rose regardless because women just moved to office and secretarial type jobs.
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
The WAAC was a regular part of the United States army. By 1943, 350,000 women had volunteered to serve. They acted as pilots, nurses, and did other jobs required so the military ran smoothly. During World War II, 432 WAAC troops died and 88 were prisoners of war.