Key Events on the Home Front During World War II (1941-1945)
During World War II, the United States experienced profound changes and significant events on the home front. These years were marked by major shifts in industrial production, workforce dynamics, and social policies. Below is a summary of the key events that shaped the American home front from 1941 to 1945.
1941
- U.S. Commits Supplies to European Allies: Nationwide construction of Defense Plants and housing begins. Henry Kaiser opens a Shipyard in Richmond with a contract to supply Liberty-type ships to Britain.
- Opposition to Hiring Women and Minority Workers: Black leaders threaten to organize 50,000 workers in a march on Washington to demonstrate for jobs. Executive Order 8802 bans racial discrimination in defense work.
- Pearl Harbor Attacked: The U.S. enters World War II. 80,000 women find work in defense plants.
1942
- Great Arsenal of Democracy: FDR asks all citizens to join the war effort by "outproducing and overwhelming the enemy." Workers are recruited by press, radio, and film. Henry Kaiser adapts Mass-Assembly techniques to shipbuilding.
- Southern Black Workers Migrate: Over 1.2 million Southern Black workers migrate North and West for industrial defense jobs. Heavy industries adopt new skill classifications, channeling women and minorities into the lowest-paid jobs. AFL-CIO adopts a No-Strike pledge during the war. Kaiser begins a health-care program for shipyard workers.
- Bracero Program: The program imports workers from Mexico on short-term contracts to work in agriculture. Executive Order 9066 transfers 120,000 people of Japanese descent to internment camps; 70,000 are U.S. Citizens. Hitler implements the "Final Solution."
1943
- FDR Freezes Wages and Prices: Calls for an increase in production. Industries employ 200,000 people with disabilities. Prisons take on Defense Work; some states relax child labor laws.
- Office of War Information: Launches a campaign to promote Defense Jobs to housewives. The "Rosie the Riveter" pop song is released. Women compose 60% of the Kaiser workforce in Portland, Oregon. 24-hour daycare is provided at 70 cents per day.
- United Mine Workers Strike: Pay rates fall behind inflation. Wildcat strikes throughout the country demand wages reflect increasing corporate profits. Race riots over jobs and housing break out in Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles.
1944
- Kaiser Produces Victory Ships: Larger, faster victory ships are produced. Ammunition explosion at Port Chicago, California, kills 320 sailors and dockworkers - the largest industrial accident of the Home Front.
- Increase in Black Workers: The number of Black workers in industry triples during the war. Average weekly wages for factory worker men are $55; women, $31. Unions slowly begin to add "equal pay for equal work" clauses to job contracts.
- Allied Invasion of Normandy: Uses over 700 ships and 4,000 landing craft. The G.I. Bill of Rights passes in Congress.
1945
- Victory in Europe: U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Victory against Japan. World War II casualties total 54.8 million worldwide, including civilians.
- Post-War Demobilization: The defense industry demobilizes; massive layoffs occur, especially for women and minorities. Veterans are given priority for post-war jobs. The labor force at Richmond Kaiser Shipyard is reduced from 90,000 to less than 10,000. Women returning to pre-war jobs experience a significant decline in wages.
