Question

Describe the events that resulted from U.S. involvement in World War II. How did it impact the home front? Explore how life changed for men, women, children, and Japanese Americans

Answer 1

Rationing affected everyone by placing limits on how much food, clothing and gas anyone could buy. People used coupon books to buy goods (and to let the sellers know that they were within their limits). "Victory gardens" were encouraged to grow your own food and by the time the war ended, they made up nearly half of all of the veggies that the nation had at its disposal. Recycling was also big.

Women were also allowed to work in manufacturing positions building planes, tanks, whatever was needed breaking the long held belief that their place was to be at home. This was seen as necessary since it was almost always husbands, brothers, and fathers that went off to fight. Children being raised in this climate learned how to ration and conserve the hard way, helping their parents with day-to-day needs.

Japanese Americans, however, were often seen with suspicion because of the Empire of Japan. The Japanese American community along the Pacific coast, in particular, were targeted by internment camps because of the fear and suspicion that there would be spies among many of them ready to sabotage the US. The opposite, however, was true - Japanese Americans proved to be just as patriotic as anyone else, but the huge amount of fear at the time made it difficult to see past their race.