World War II

The ‘Good War’ at Home and Abroad

Background, Causes Leftover strains, economic problems from

WWI Failure of democracy in Germany, Italy,

USSR Authoritarian govts in Italy, Japan, Germany,

Spain Rise of Hitler and Nazis, legally gained

power, support of German people Fascism = belief in superior race, party rule,

extreme nationalism, dictatorship, world domination, expansionism (Lebensraum)

Lead-up to U.S. Involvement 1930s, Japanese colonialism in Pacific 1930s, Rise of fascism in Europe 1936, Axis formed (Germany, Italy, Japan) 1938, Germany annexed Austria, Czech. 1939, Hitler-Stalin Pact 1939, Hitler invaded Poland June, 1940, France fell Summer-fall, 1940, Battle of Britain (bombing) June, 1941, Hitler invaded USSR (mistake) Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, U.S. entered war

From Isolationism to War

American criticism of WWI, “merchants of death” – 1935 Neutrality Act;

‘cash-and-carry’ law America First movement

From Isolationism to War

Charles Lindbergh and others sympathetic to Nazis

But FDR and many Americans sympathized with Britain and Allies – pressure to join war

Changed laws to allow trade with allies Lend-lease, Jan. 1941, allowed arming of

Allies, moving U.S. closer to participation Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 – united

Americans in entering and winning war

Fighting the War: Basics Allies, Big Three (U.S., GB, USSR) + France and

China FDR, Churchill, Stalin – Big Three Leaders Strained relations over war aims and strategy

Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan) Hitler, Mussolini, Emperor Hirohito/Military leaders

Two Wars: Europe and Pacific War in Europe USSR vs. Germany, 1941, the Eastern Front Allies entered Europe through Africa/Italy first

(1942/43) Then D-Day invasion at Normandy on French coast

(1944), push towards Berlin V-E Day, May 8, 1945

Fighting the War: Basics War in the Pacific: naval, air, jungle combat Japanese empire throughout Pacific Midway naval battles: U.S. victories in 1942 halted

Japanese advance on Australia and hurt Japanese navy

Island-hopping towards Japanese islands Guadalcanal, 1942-1943 Iwo Jima and Okinawa, 1943

Fire-bombing of Tokyo, Spring 1945 Predictions of mass slaughter if U.S. invaded

Japanese homeland August 6 and 9, atomic bombs dropped on

Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Japan surrendered shortly after

The Big Three

Expanded Govt. Power Similar to WWI experience Dollar-a-year men, corp. leaders, guaranteed

profits Bigness a benefit – large bureaucracies and

businesses favored for high productivity – top 100 comp. from 30% (1940) to 70% (1945)

WPB – powerful, contracts, conversion, control OPA – controlled consumer prices Paying for war: taxes, debt, bonds Military drafted 31 million men; half failed

Idealism of Allies

FDR’s Four Freedoms: Atlantic Charter – U.S. and GB – war a fight

for freedom, free trade, collective security, national self-determination

Music of Popular Front: Aaron Copland George Gershwin Woody Guthrie Big Band

Four Freedoms

Four Freedoms

Mobilization at Home: Unity and Sacrifice

Mobilizing Workers: Creating an ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ Labor shortage: women,

blacks entered workforce, industrial jobs, moved north

Workers continued to join unions during war

Gained higher wages and income

NWLB handled disputes Labor’s no-strike pledge for

war Tension and strikes:

disputes over wages vs. corp. profits led UMW to strike in 1943

Problems of WWII: War as Crucible

War challenged nation and people to define themselves: ideals, who belonged, goals

Problems of race and racism Inclusion or exclusion of immigrants Economic and social equality: equal sacrifice

for war effort? War goals and methods: do they fit with

national ideals? Long-term effects of war on society

Good War, Race War?

Rationale for WWII as ‘Good War’: As framed by FDR, WWII was a fight for freedom,

against tyranny A war against fascism, racial superiority Continuation and completion of New Deal Fight for economic and racial liberalism at home

and abroad Holocaust made war even more just – fascism

was evil, based on racial superiority and cleansing

A War of Possibilities: Racial and Economic Liberalism

Economic Liberalism: Social and economic equality (The Four Freedoms)

Equality of sacrifice in wartime (fair wages and profits)

Racial Equality: Incorporation of blacks and immigrants into nation – the right to fight, to be patriotic, to join the nation

Racial Equality: Ability of all Americans to serve country and gain benefits of service

Racial Liberalism During War

WWII Civil Rights: Realities Fight for equality at home and in war

effort: Black newspapers and organizations: Double V

campaign: war against fascism abroad AND racism at home

FEPC created in 1941 after A. Philip Randolph’s threat of March on Washington – equal opportunity

U.S. armed forces segregated throughout war, even in other countries

War as hothouse for civil rights: Disappointments of wartime experience led to black

mobilization of 1950s and 1960s Women reluctant to return home after war-work, fought

1950s domestic culture Gays became less isolated, found others, organized

WWII Civil Rights: Realities Tendency towards suspicion and conformity

on the home front Private Snafu films

Problems of racism at home and abroad: Conflict between war aims and realities of racism in

U.S. society and military Discrimination against black Americans: segregated

armed forces, workplaces, lower pay Japanese internment Anti-Hispanic attacks in Los Angeles led to “zoot suit

riots” Racial war against Japanese

Double Victory over Racism

Band, The Ink Spots, supported Double V campaign

Legacy of Wartime Racism Why no black soldiers in Saving Private Ryan? Structural and legal

racism had long-termeffects

Segregated armedforces, bases

Unable to prove heroism/loyalty

Discouraged fromusing G.I. Bill

G.I. housing loan discrimination; redlined black neighborhoods

Desegregated armed forces, in 1948: wars with black soldiers on front lines = losses, dishonorable wars

Race War in the Pacific War against Japanese diff. than war against

Germans: racism on both sides History of white anti-Asian racism in U.S. and abroad

(Chinese/Japanese exclusion, Filipino war) Japanese internment within U.S. “Japs” portrayed as particularly sneaky (rats) and

bloodthirsty Racial aspect, along w/ nature of jungle combat, led

to atrocities on both sides Take no prisoners Taking of souvenirs (body parts, skulls)

Would U.S. have used atomic bomb against the Germans?

Anti-Japanese Propaganda

Anti-Japanese Propaganda

Anti-Japanese Propaganda

Ethics and Morality of War ‘The Good War’? Effects of WWII military tactics and culture on later U.S.

and world history? German and Japanese war machines, atrocities on

civilians: Nazis, Guernica, bombing of London, Holocaust Japanese, Rape of Nanking, kamikaze, enslavement

Methods of war: mass mechanized war targeting of civilians inciting terror and demoralization

U.S. bombing of non-military civilian German targets: Dresden (Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five)

U.S. intentional firebombing of Tokyo; ¼ of city burned U.S. use of atomic bombs

Summary Questions:

Why did U.S. join WWII? How did it win the war? What was life like on the home front? What ideals did U.S. support and oppose

during the war? Did WWII remake U.S. society? Did the U.S. live up to its ideals during WWII?