7.12 World War II: Mobilization

America's entry into World War II in December 1941 transformed the nation economically and socially. The massive mobilization effort to equip U.S. troops and supply Allied nations ended the Great Depression, created new opportunities for women and minorities, and dramatically expanded government's role in managing the economy. This unprecedented national effort helped secure victory while permanently altering American society.

Liberty ships. Image courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command

The Arsenal of Democracy

Even before Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt had committed to making the United States the "Arsenal of Democracy," supplying Allied nations with war materials. After America's entry into the war, production dramatically increased to supply both U.S. forces and allies like Britain, the Soviet Union, and China.

American industry achieved remarkable production feats:

• Liberty Ships (cargo vessels) could be built in as little as 14 days
• Ford's Willow Run factory produced a B-24 bomber every hour
• Between 1941 and 1945, the U.S. manufactured 300,000 aircraft, 86,000 tanks, and 71,000 naval vessels

This industrial miracle was made possible by converting consumer factories to military production. Automobile plants stopped making cars and instead produced tanks, jeeps, and aircraft. The government directed these conversions through agencies like the War Production Board (WPB), which determined what factories would produce.

Economic Recovery and Management

World War II finally ended the Great Depression through unprecedented government spending and near-full employment. The war transformed the American economy in ways the New Deal could not achieve:

• Unemployment virtually disappeared as 15 million Americans served in the armed forces
• Government spending increased from 9 billion dollars in 1939 to over $98 billion in 1945
• Industrial production doubled between 1939 and 1945
• Per capita income increased by 50% during the war years

The federal government took extraordinary steps to manage this wartime economy:

The Four Freedoms

In his January 1941 State of the Union address, President Roosevelt articulated the ideological basis for American involvement in the war. He declared that people everywhere deserved four essential freedoms:

• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of religion
• Freedom from want
• Freedom from fear

This framing transformed the conflict from a political war to an ideological struggle between democracy and fascism. Roosevelt's Four Freedoms provided a compelling rationale for American intervention and sacrifice, positioning the United States as a defender of fundamental human rights rather than merely fighting against specific nations.

Women in the War Effort

The massive labor shortage created by military mobilization opened unprecedented opportunities for women in the workforce:

• Female employment increased from 14 million to 19 million between 1940 and 1945
• Women took jobs in defense industries previously reserved for men
• "Rosie the Riveter" became an iconic symbol of women in the defense industry
• Women earned higher wages than in traditional female occupations

After the war, many women were pressured to leave their jobs to make room for returning veterans. However, their wartime experiences permanently changed perceptions about women's capabilities and roles in society, laying groundwork for future movements for gender equality.

African Americans and the Double Victory Campaign

For African Americans, World War II presented both challenges and opportunities for advancing civil rights. Many saw the contradiction in fighting fascism abroad while facing discrimination at home.

The war created new openings for African Americans:

• Over one million Black Americans served in the armed forces, though in segregated units
• The Tuskegee Airmen proved Black pilots could excel in combat
• Defense industry jobs offered higher wages and new opportunities

The "Double V Campaign," promoted by the Pittsburgh Courier and other Black newspapers, called for victory over fascism abroad and racism at home. Civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph threatened a march on Washington to protest discrimination in defense industries. In response, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, which prohibited racial discrimination in defense industries and created the Fair Employment Practices Committee.

Despite these advances, racial tensions remained high, with race riots occurring in several cities. Many African Americans saw their wartime service as justification for demanding full citizenship rights after the war, setting the stage for the civil rights movement.

Mexican Americans and Labor Programs

The war significantly impacted Mexican American communities and U.S.-Mexico relations:

• The Bracero Program brought thousands of Mexican workers to the United States to address agricultural labor shortages
• Mexican Americans joined the armed forces in large numbers, serving with distinction
• Defense industry jobs offered new economic opportunities for many Latino families

However, racial tensions remained severe, particularly in western states:

• The Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 in Los Angeles saw white servicemen attacking Mexican American youth
• Police often failed to protect Mexican American communities
• Discrimination in housing and public accommodations persisted throughout the war

The experience of wartime service and contribution to the war effort strengthened Mexican Americans' resolve to fight for equal treatment after the war ended.

Native Americans and Military Service

Native Americans participated extensively in the war effort, making unique and valuable contributions:

• Approximately 25,000 Native Americans served in the armed forces
• Navajo Code Talkers used their native language to create an unbreakable code in the Pacific Theater
• The Code Talkers' work was crucial in major battles, including Iwo Jima
• Native American veterans gained new skills, education benefits, and experiences beyond reservations

The war experience accelerated cultural changes in Native American communities and strengthened demands for civil rights and tribal sovereignty in the postwar period.

Japanese American Internment

Wartime hysteria and longstanding anti-Asian prejudice led to one of the most shameful episodes in American history:

• Executive Order 9066, signed by President Roosevelt in February 1942, authorized the removal of people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast
• Over 110,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens, were forced into internment camps
• Families lost homes, businesses, and possessions with little or no compensation
• The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the internment in Korematsu v. United States (1944)

Despite this treatment, approximately 33,000 Japanese Americans served in the U.S. military during the war. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed primarily of Japanese Americans, became the most decorated unit of its size in American military history.

The wartime mobilization of America transformed the nation in profound ways that extended far beyond military victory. The massive economic expansion ended the Great Depression and created new opportunities for previously marginalized groups. Though discriminatory practices continued, the contributions of women, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, and Japanese Americans during the war laid important groundwork for the civil rights movements that would follow. World War II not only changed America's position in the world but also accelerated social change at home.