Lesson: World War II Homefront

World War II: The Homefront

Today we will examine how World War II impacted the lives of Americans in the U.S.

Historical Question: How did World War II impact the lives of Americans in the U.S.?

Standard #2 Individuals have rights and responsibilities

Learning Objective: Students will recall and analyze the impact World War II had on American citizens in the U.S. to create a claim.

Let's begin with a quick video overview...

As you watch the video, notice what changes in how and what Americans are doing in the U.S. because of World War II.

Women Enter the Military

• World War II was Total War- Everyone was involved in the war effort.

• Women served in new military and civilian positions.

• In the Women's Army Corp, over 150,000 served as: clerical workers, truck drivers, and instructors.

• More than 57,000 women served in the Army’s Nurse Corps.

• Over 86,000 in the Navy’s, Women Accepted for Auxiliary Emergency Services, or WAVES program. Over 20,000 joined the Marine Corps. Around 10,000 joined the Coast Guard.2,000 pilots in the Women’s Air Service Pilots organization, or WASPs.

• Most of these programs were disbanded after the war.

Multiple Choice

What is total war?

• A new PS5 game.

• Only military personnel were involved in the war effort.

• Every person is involved in the war effort.

• How much the war cost.

Poll

If you were a woman in 1942, which new position would you have signed up for during World War II if given the opportunity?

• Women's Air Service Pilots

• Women's Army Corp

• Army's Nurses Corp

• Navy's WAVES Program

Women Enter the Industrial Workforce

• The draft produced a shortage of labor in the U.S (not enough workers).

• This created pressures and opportunities for women to work in stereotypically male jobs.  

• Rosie the Riveter became a generic symbol of women civilians supporting the war effort. 

• Women worked in factories, offices, and government positions.  

• What was the name of the symbol for women civilians entering the workforce to support the war effort?

Multiple Choice

What was the name of the symbol for women civilians entering the workforce to support the war effort?

• Roberta the Robot

• Rosie the Riveter

• Jane Doe

• Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

Open Ended

If you had a loved one fighting in the war during World War II, would you have purchased a war bond? Explain in at least 1 sentence.

Poll

How do you feel about government rationing during World War II?

• Rationing was the responsibility of Americans to make sure everyone had their fair share.

• Rationing violated Americans rights to freedom.

Open Ended

If you had to grow your own fruits and vegetables in a Victory Garden, what would you choose to plant?

Multiple Choice

What is it called when the government tries to control public opinion?

• Politics

• Propaganda

• Civil rights

• Control

Multiple Choice

What was the purpose of Executive Order 8802?

• Forced African American workers to work for less money.

• It required businesses that were funded with government money to discriminate based on race when hiring workers.

• It required businesses that were funded with government money to Not discriminate based on race when hiring workers.

Open Ended

How does the Bracero program compare to how the U.S. government treated Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans during the 1930's? Answer in at least 1 sentence.

Multiple Select

In what ways are the riots during World War II similar to the riots that occurred in 1919?

• They both occurred after Americans migrated to cities.

• The both happened after wars were over.

• They both occurred as Americans competed for jobs.

• They both happened in rural areas.

Open Ended

List 4 changes to American life that occurred in the U.S. during World War II.

Open Ended

Write a topic sentence describing how World War II impacted Americans' lives. How did World War II impact the lives of Americans?

All done!

Great job! We'll continue the learning the rest of this week by focusing on two events that occurred during World War II: The Zoot Suit Riots & Japanese American Internment.