Term Paper on "World War II Life on the Home Front"

Term Paper 4 pages (1485 words) Sources: 4 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

World War II -- Life on the Homefront

As World War II was beginning to emerge, the world was being reshaped. The war began in 1939 and ended in 1945 with more than fifty countries at war (PBS). All of these countries experienced a different outcome during and before the war. Life was especially life-changing in the United States and in Great Britain. With the home front being a different encounter for each respective country, the events witnessed and experienced would shape not only the lives of the people directly involved, but the future of each country was molded once again.

The United States tried as much as it could to stay out of the war. However, on December 7, 1941, all of that changed. Despite the war having begun two years prior, the United States had not yet entered nor involved itself in the war's political affairs. Government leaders from the United States did not want to continue involving itself in European affairs. However, after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan that killed thousands of innocent soldiers and civilians, the United States had no choice but to enter the Second World War.

United States' citizens whom once rejected the notion of war, became great supporters of the idea. Patriotism was once again revamped and the idea of America being the front leader in this war was entertained. After entering the war, life on the home front of America was completely changed. To begin with, the war arrived at the turn of the great American industrialization (PBS). Right before the onset of the war, the United States was facing financial and economic crisis. The Great Depression was in full force and about half of all men in the United States were unemployed (PBS). Unable to sustain and support a family, men were forced to take on any job that was available -- although these opportunities were scarce in all regions of the country. Men from all different walks of life and socioeconomic statuses were deeply affected by the dive that the American economy had taken during that time. Afraid of not being able to fully fund a war, the United States refused to enter the battle until it was left with no choice.

Despite the reservations about entering such a disastrous war, the United States entered with full force and completely changed American history. Employment in the United States boomed. Factories that sat empty and dormant previous to the war would now be crowded with factory workers looking to put their part into the war effort. Production and manufacturing was overwhelming, so much so that it reshaped the demographics of a nation (PBS). Individuals who had not even worked before had the opportunity to put their part into the war. Women entered the workforce -- many for the first time ever. They sustained factories and ran businesses that were once run by their husbands. Women's status changed from that of housewife, to bread earner while her husband was at war. World War II transformed gender dynamics in the United States.

The economic boom that the United States experienced was unprecedented. With so much needed to support the Second World War, jobs were everywhere. This also meant that people from all over the world that were looking to find employment in order to better the lives of their families, did not hesitate to involve themselves in the war effort. African-Americans from the South moved to the North, West, and Midwest in order to find factory employment. Europeans immigrated to the United States in droves during that time as well, as they were all looking to escape the horrors of the war in Europe (PBS). Most of these immigrants migrated to the Northeast or to the West. Americans also moved within the United States in order to move from job to job. Because the need was so great, people who were looking for employment were able to find it anywhere. Factory jobs were available in the bigger towns and cities, while agricultural work was in excess in the farms all over the United States (PBS). With so many job prospects, a fifth of the entire United States population changed their living location during the war.

Although spending in the United States was at an all-time high, rationing was still implemented as a precaution (Ames Historical Society). American citizens were allowed a certain amount of basic necessities per month. Because the majority of… READ MORE

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