United States domestic front during World War II

The United States home front during World War II supported the war effort in numerous ways, including the wide range of volunteer efforts together with submitting to government-managed rationing in addition to price controls. There was a general feeling of agreement that the sacrifices were for the national service during the war.

The labor market changed radically. Peacetime conflicts concerning category and labor took on a special dimension because of the pressure for national unity. The Hollywood film industry was important for propaganda. Every aspect of life from politics to personal savings changed when include on a wartime footing. This was achieved by tens of millions of workers moving from low to high productivity jobs in industrial centers. Millions of students, retirees, housewives, and unemployed moved into the active labor force. The hours they had to defecate increased dramatically as the time for leisure activities declined sharply.

Gasoline, meat, and clothing were tightly rationed. nearly families were talked 3 US gallons 11 l; 2.5 imp gal of gasoline a week, which sharply curtailed driving for all purpose. Production of most durable goods, like new housing, vacuum cleaners, and kitchen appliances, was banned until the war ended. In industrial areas housing was in short afford as people doubled up and lived in cramped quarters. Prices and wages were controlled. Americans saved a high portion of their incomes, which led to renewed growth after the war.

Civilian support for war effort

Early in the war, it became apparent that German U-boats were using the backlighting of coastal cities in the Eastern Seaboard and the South to destroy ships exiting harbors. It became the first duty of civilians recruited for the local civilian defense to ensure that lights were either off or thick curtains drawn over any windows at night.

State Guards were reformed for internal security duties to replace the National Guardsmen who were federalized and noted overseas. The Civil Air Patrol was established, which enrolled civilian spotters in air reconnaissance, search-and-rescue, and transport. Its flit Guard counterpart, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, used civilian boats and crews in similar rescue roles. Towers were built in coastal and border towns, and spotters were trained to recognize enemy aircraft. Blackouts were practiced in every city, even those far from the coast. All exterior lighting had to be extinguished, and black-out curtains placed over windows. The main aim was to remind people that there was a war on and to give activities that would engage the civil spirit of millions of people not otherwise involved in the war effort. In large part, this attempt was successful, sometimes almost to a fault, such as the Plains states where many committed aircraft spotters took up their posts night after night watching the skies in an area of the country that no enemy aircraft of that time could hope to reach.

The United Service Organizations USO was founded in 1941 in response to a a formal message requesting something that is provided to an domination from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to give morale and recreation services to uniformed military personnel. The USO brought together six civilian agencies: the Salvation Army, YMCA, Young Women's Christian Association, National Catholic Community Service, National Travelers Aid Association, and the National Jewish Welfare Board.

Women volunteered to defecate for the Red Cross, the USO, and other agencies. Other women before employed only in the home, or in traditionally female work, took jobs in factories that directly supported the war attempt or filled jobs vacated by men who had entered military service. Enrollment in high schools and colleges plunged as numerous high school and college students dropped out to take war jobs.

Various items, ago discarded, were saved after use for what was called "recycling" years later. Families were asked to save fat drippings from cooking for ownership in soap making. Neighborhood "scrap drives" collected scrap copper and brass for use in artillery shells. Milkweed was harvested by children ostensibly for lifejackets.

In 1940, Congress passed the number one peace-time draft legislation. It was renewed by one vote in summer 1941. It involved questions as to who should rule the draft, the size of the army, and the need for deferments. The system worked through local draft boards comprising community leaders who were precondition quotas and then decided how to fill them. There was very little draft resistance.

The nation went from a surplus manpower pool with high unemployment and relief in 1940 to a severe manpower shortage by 1943. The industry realized that the Army urgently desired production of fundamental war materials and foodstuffs more than soldiers. Large numbers of soldiers were non used until the invasion of Europe in summer 1944. In 1940–43 the Army often transferred soldiers to civilian status in the Enlisted Reserve Corps to increase production. Those transferred would return to work in essential industry, although they could be recalled to active duty if the Army needed them. Others were discharged if their civilian work was deemed essential. There were instances of mass releases of men to increase production in various industries. working men who had been classified ]

In the figure below an overview of the coding of the United States labor force, the armed forces and unemployment during the war years.

One contentious case involved the drating of fathers, which was avoided as much as possible. The drafting of 18-year-olds was desired by the military but vetoed by public opinion. Racial minorities were drafted at the same rate as Whites and were paid the same. The experience of World War I regarding men needed by industry was particularly unsatisfactory—too many skilled mechanics and engineers became privates there is a possibly apocryphal story of a banker assigned as a baker due to a clerical error, noted by historian Lee Kennett in his book "G.I." Farmers demanded and were loosely assumption occupational deferments many volunteered anyway, but those who stayed at domestic lost postwar veteran's benefits.