Gwen Altman
AMH 2020
16 March 16
World War II and the Homefront Six years, 1.6 trillion dollars, and over 60 million deaths. No one could possibly refute the massive impact of World War II. However, many look abroad rather than see the affects in the United States Homefront that would alter the nation infinitely. The Second World War brought on unprecedented economic growth. Increased rights and freedoms were also secured for females and African Americans. World War II sparked a whole new era of economic and social change in the United States. The American public dove head first into the war effort in all aspects. For example, Americans “bought billions of dollars’ worth of bonds to help defray the cost of the war” (Winkler). Despite having just experienced the economic turmoil of the 1930’s, many were quick to purchase patriotic bonds. Those who did not donate supported the war effort through obtaining resources for soldiers. Rations restricted in demand goods like sugar, meat, and fuel and others grew their own fruits and vegetables in professed “victory gardens”. Communities also collected scrap metal and rubber from objects like aluminum cans. Most importantly, the American economy soared with the jobs generated by mammoth amounts of ammunition and transportation needed. “New Deal strategies of Preparedness and Conversion readied industries to create war materials” (Tassava). For instance, major automobile manufactures changed to construct airplanes. These new factories constantly required workers to produce planes, ships, tanks, and over 15 million guns. Competition for workers was increased as most of the young men had been deployed and this started the spread of the idea of employers offering benefits. This period destroyed unemployment in the United States after the Great Depression and the nation also benefitted from revenue made from selling its