WW IIPeople in America

American ServicemenCalled “GI”s--stands for “Government Issue”

troops had few basics, few supplies, little toilet paper & soap, etc.

homesickness was common

> 292,000 American GIs died in WWII :(

Women during W.W. II> 6 million women entered labor force (took jobs)

Worked as welders, electricians, machinists, railroad workers, Doctors, etc.

but only earned 60% of men’s pay

200,000 women in non-combat jobs in military

nurses, radio operators, translators, code breakers, mechanics, etc.

200 women (mostly nurses) died in line of duty

When GI’s returned, many women lost their jobs

“Rosie the Riveter”

Click here for more info on many “Rosies”

consumers...YOU! (American Public)

Americans began hoarding goods.

Office of Price Administration (OPA) created a rationing (limiting) system: sugar, coffee, meat, butter, tires, fuel (3 gallons per adult per week), cloth, etc.

given coupon books/stamps

recycle waste products (tin, steel, stockings (for gun powder bags), tires (gas masks), bacon grease (ammunition)

planted “victory gardens” to grow their own food

rationinga week worth of food

Childrenscrap-metal drives to buy war bonds/stamps; contributed $100 million to war effort

dad at war + mom at work = left alone

dropped out of school to get jobs

crime increased

African Americans@ first, 900,000 blacks trained for non-combat jobs

as soldiers, they were segregated, but, by the end of the war, they served along side whites in combat roles

dorie miller

Mexican Americans500,000 Latinos in WWII

Not segregated, but still faced prejudice in military

Native American “Code Talkers”

Thousands worked in war factories or armed forces

Used Navajo language as a code that was never broken

Jewish Americans1944: FDR creates “War Refugee Board” which rescues 200,000 Jews from Nazis

many not let in before for fear that they’d take American jobs fr/workers

550,000 Jews served in WWII