Diversity› Much more diverse than WWI

› African Americans only served in their own combat units until 1944 What started to happen??

› Tuskegee Airmen, became the first African American flying unit in the U.S. military

350,000 women volunteered for military service

Served in all roles except combat › Clerks, Typists, Photographers

War Production:› Something important Americans could do at

home› Businesses could/would not transfer alone

War Production Board: › Formed in 1942: Government directed

the war production of business

› Examples of changes made?

Impact› Unemployment goes down, real end to the

Depression

› Outperformed the Axis Powers

Shortages and Rationing› Familiar Items were unavailable

Metal & Rubber

› The amount of scarce items was rationed Sugar, Coffee, Gasoline

› Why were these goods rationed??

Popular Culture Becomes “Popular”› Many goods were unavailable so people

spent their money on other things

› More people read books & magazines

› 60 Percent of the population went to the movies ever week

Victory Gardens› Home vegetable garden planted to add to

the home food supply

› Government also encouraged recycling of metal, paper and other materials