Introduction

On December 7th 1941, Japanese airplanes attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by surprise. During the attack, 19 military vessels were destroyed and over 2300 casualties lost their lives on what was supposed to be a Sunday of gathering. The following day, December 8th 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made the infamous “A date which will live in infamy” speech, which brought Americans together to prepare for war. Following President Roosevelt’s decision, U.S. Congress approved the declaration of entry of the United States into World War II. Shortly after, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. With the decision and patriotism of the American population, the anti-war isolationist movement ended. Many dedicated men and women rushed to recruiting stations to sign up for the war.

The American population at home participated in the war effort by practicing blackouts at night, particularly in the coastal towns and cities. One of the safeguards in the war effort was to turn the lights off at night to avoid becoming a target for enemy aircraft. This practice was done as a reminder to civilians to participate in the war effort. These safeguards encouraged civilians at home to protect American soil with honor.

More than any war before, Americans showed their patriotism and cheered on the war efforts to guarantee victory in World War II. Celebrities and the everyday population were a major part of the victorious war effort. As a group, the following information has been gathered to show the significance of the role Americans played in World War II.

Many men were sent off to fight in the war, this left women to do the jobs they left behind. Such jobs as building airplanes, ships and providing consumer goods were now filled by women. In this era, the role of a woman dramatically changed as she was viewed more independently and in a sense the bread winner. A female living in this time period now had a great deal of confidence, responsibility, and drive due to her efforts in maintaining a household and providing in the war effort. Without the persistence of women, it is questionable that America would have been victorious. We can also state that during this time there was a revolution in a woman’s role in everyday American life.

During World War II, America was so united that even Hollywood played a role in the fight against the axis forces in Europe. Major media and the government joined forces to present the official view of the war effort. At theaters nationwide, movies of war were filmed with the intent to encourage patriotism. Such movie stars as Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable were viewed as heroes. Movies helped to shape the public and provide instruction on being a patriotic citizen and even transform behaviors and attitudes. Never before or thereafter have we seen Hollywood as a whole so involved and supportive of our nation during war.

War Bonds sponsored by the U.S. Government were provided to the public with the intent to raise needed money to fund the war effort. Thereafter, such efforts as celebrity sponsored war bond drives were extremely successful in raising money. Many famous and successful promotions of war bonds include Disney, who created cartoon shorts. The most successful and recognized of the cartoon shorts featured a picture of Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse or Goofy wearing a Navy or Army cap. Not only were these cartoons patriotic but they also brought laughter in a time of crisis to many American families.

With so many supplies needed to fight the war in Europe, there was often a shortage. Items such as tires were required to be rationed due to the shortage of rubber. By November of 1943, the United States government made the recommendation to U.S. citizens to budget on items such as shoes, gasoline, various types of meats and other items that are used in everyday life. The war itself required Americans to produce and manufacture many goods for our troops and our allies. This provided an economic boom throughout factories across the United States, most notably those that manufactured steel, gasoline, and canned foods. With the war efforts, Americans were also provided work and community service which put Americans on a pedestal from a patriotic standpoint.

Team Leader: Glenna P. Assistant Leader: Shawna P. Technical Support: Bryn N.

Hollywoods Role on WWII

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States view of neutrality for the war in Europe ended. In an unprecedented event, the government and Hollywood banded together to produce films intended to promote patriotism and to give the official view of the war effort abroad. In 1942, President Roosevelt formed the Office of War Information (OWI) whose job was to oversee all government press, information services and also included monitoring motion pictures. The newly created Bureau of Motion Pictures formed an alliance between Hollywood and the government to produce films meant to promote values such as heroism, selflessness, cooperation and the desire to purchase war bonds. Hollywood, following guidelines from memos and pamphlets, created comedies, musicals, cartoons, dramas, romances, and action- packed adventures films on behalf of the war effort.

Roosevelt, in response to advice from the OWI, allowed the viewing of the brutal images of war on film. John Huston made a documentary report of the war in his film; The Battle of San Pietro (1945).This film was probably the most moving of the US war-era documentaries which showed a graphic scene of the battle for a small Italian village in which over one thousand U.S. soldiers were killed. This film brought the realities of war to those on the home front.

Pin-ups were popular with the men at war during WWII. These were illustrations or posters featuring beautiful actresses in revealing clothing. . Photos of these young actresses were seen on playing cards, greeting cards, calendars, matchbooks, tacked up to the walls of the barracks, and hand- painted on the noses of planes. Actresses such as Betty Grable, Ava Gardner, and Veronica Lake were popular pin-ups but the most famous and the most reproduced pin-up image was of Betty Grable’s 1943 bathing suit photo.

The executives with Disney also got into the war effort by producing wartime cartoon shorts displayed before movies at the theater. "Der Fuehrer's Face,” featuring Donald Duck as a Nazi munitions worker, won the Oscar for best short cartoon for 1943.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZcs1SHVbz0&feature=related

Most of these cartoons are banned on T.V. at this time due to their racial and discriminatory stereotyping. Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips was a cartoon directed by Friz Freleng and released in 1944. This cartoon features Bugs Bunny trapped on a deserted island dealing with stereotyped Japanese.

http://noolmusic.com/youtube_live/banned_cartoons_-_bugs_bunny_nips_the_nips.php

-Glenna P.

Bibliography:

The History of Film accessed June 28, 2010 fromhttp://www.filmsite.org/40sintro.html

The Straight Dope accessed June 28, 2010 from http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1995/did-bugs-bunny-appear-in-a-racist-cartoon-during-world-war-ii

Victory Gardens and Rationing

In 1942, the Office of Price Administration (OPA) established ten major rationing programs. At the same time, shortages in still exempt goods drove their prices up, encouraging hoarding, and fueling a vicious cycle that led to more rationing. Most Americans were extremely unhappy with the administration’s necessary rationing programs and higher taxes. The rationing system provided consumers with coupons at prices that the OPA had fixed, which were required for the purchase of certain goods, and included meat, shoes, fats, coffee, and many others. Dealers were not permitted to restock their supplies until they provided all of the coupons from sales that were made. The number of coupons allowed for each family was determined by a local rationing board. Nearly everyone affected by the rations was unsatisfied with their position, including producers and vendors who claimed prices were set too low. Families also felt that they were subject to unequal judgment from a board in their community.

During 1942, government spending was channeling money to consumers through industrial wages. At the same time, war production continually reduced the supply of consumer goods, increasing the gap between demand and supply to $17 billion that year. In January 1942, under pressure from President Roosevelt, Congress authorized the OPA to set maximum prices. In April, Leon Henderson, who was head of the OPA at the time, issued the General Maximum Price Regulation, which ordered a freeze on all retail prices at their highest levels which had been reached in March. This ruling was very difficult to enforce, as the quality of many products worsened while their prices were forced to remain the same. At the same time, black markets for these products thrived. In October, Congress passed the Price Control Act, which allowed for more price Control, as well as the control of wages. Although this act limited inflation, it was not enough to close the enormous gap that already troubled the economy. -Leslie P.

Rationing and Victory Gardens in WWII

Rationing in World War II

World War I brought challenges in the home front. One of the challenges the American people confronted was rationing. Rationing was part of the large effort introduced by the government to make sure everyone had a fair share of what was available. Families would be limited in how much flour, butter, gasoline and other things they could buy. In 1942 Food Rationing program started.

Sugar rationing started in May 1943 with the distribution of “ Sugar Buying Cards” Registration was required and coupons were distributed based on family size. Red stamped rationing covered all meat, butter, fat and oils. Each person was allowed a certain amounts of points weekly with expiration dates. Blue Stamped covered canned, bottled and frozen fruits and vegetables juices and dry beans. A “War Ration Book“ and tokens were issued to each family which authorized a purchase of rationed goods in quantity and in a designated time which guaranteed each family a fair share of goods.

Victory Gardens

The program called Victory Gardens was meant to help citizens provide for themselves in an attempt to help with the war effort. With the shortage of labor and transportation to harvest and move fruits and vegetables the U.S. government proposed the national food growing effort to plant “ Victory Gardens “. Empty lots, back yards, and school fields were cultivated for Victory Gardens as a viable source of foods. With a small investment of soil, fertilizer and hard days of work to plan and tend the garden the average family could enjoy 4 -5 months of fruits and vegetables. The U.S. government estimated fruits and vegetables harvested in these plots to be 9- 10 million tons, an amount equal to all commercial productivity of fruits and vegetables. The government was able to encourage citizens to enjoy healthy lifestyle by decreasing the intake of meat and fats and eating more fruits and vegetables.- MaryAnn P.