Overview & Historical Context
On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces attacked the American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. As a result, the United States entered World War II*, changing life for people all over the country. The people of the American home front made aiding the war effort a central aspect of their lives.
While World War II impacted the United States in many ways, this website will focus on four key effects the war had on the home front:
- Rationing
- Bond Drives
- Movement to Cities
- The Bracero Program
This page will highlight several other effects, but those four are the ones with the most detailed explanations.
After you have finished viewing the material on this website, you can visit the Polls & Questions page (under the "more..." tab) to assess your knowledge of the home front. You can also read the Blog to see a summary/commentary over the material on this site.
A Brief Look at Effects of WWII on the Home Front (Not Discussed in Detail on this Site)
Executive Order 9066: President Roosevelt authorized this order two months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This order resulted in over 110,000 Japanese Americans being relocated into interment camps for reasons of "national security." This was a result of wartime panic and some people's belief that anyone of Japanese ancestry was capable of disloyalty and treachery.
Women in the Workforce: United States workers played a major part in producing war materials such as airplanes, tanks, warships, rifles, and more. During World War II, many of these workers were women. As men joined the army, women joined the workforce in fields traditionally dominated by men. By the mid-1940s, the percentage of women in the workforce rose from 25% to 36%.
Rosie the Riveter became the symbol of those women who joined the workforce to fill the vacancy left by men.
Women in the Workforce: United States workers played a major part in producing war materials such as airplanes, tanks, warships, rifles, and more. During World War II, many of these workers were women. As men joined the army, women joined the workforce in fields traditionally dominated by men. By the mid-1940s, the percentage of women in the workforce rose from 25% to 36%.
Rosie the Riveter became the symbol of those women who joined the workforce to fill the vacancy left by men.
Movies during World War II usually included newsreels and cartoons that sometimes satirized the enemy. This footage often emphasized America's necessary involvement in the war. One example of a wartime cartoon is Confusions of a Nutzy Spy:
Patriotic Music & Radio Reports: During the war, the radio was the main source of news and entertainment for Americans. Therefore, radio began to show an increase in war related stories and patriotic music gained popularity. One example of such music is "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the Andrews Sisters.
*World War II lasted from 1939 until 1945. The United States was a part of the Allied Powers, along with Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and France.