Before officially entering World War II, the United States underwent many changes domestically to prepare for victory. The first step in successfully doing so was for Congress to give President Roosevelt total authority to regulate American life. This happened after the attack on Pearl Harbor and President Roosevelt's first step was to increase industrial output toward war production. Previous to Pearl Harbor, only 15 percent of industrial output was military directed.
President Roosevelt also created many organizations that would contribute to the war effort. The first organization founded was the War Production Board which had the purpose of turning civilian goods factories into war production factories. There were also the National War Labor Board, the War Manpower Commission, and the Office of Price Administration. All of their titles speak for their tasks. James F. Byrnes was appointed to head of the Office of War Mobilization, which oversaw most homeland operations and organizations.
Roosevelt's blueprint for preparing a country for war was a huge success. By 1943 over a third of the United State's economy was committed to war production. The U.S. was also successful in becoming the worlds largest exporter of synthetic rubber. This was after Japan had seized Southeast Asia and cut off the American supply of crude rubber. In fact the United State became the largest producer of war materials in the world. It even topped the Axis powers combined production.
People from all walks of life joined together due to on common interest which was to win the war against Nazi Germany and to get revenge for Pearl Harbor. Propaganda played a key role in rallying workers. The picture on page 769 of our text book entitled "Back Him Up," says it all. The workers, pushing the prepared, and well equipped soldier on to the field of battle. The thousands of factories that were set up during the war provided many jobs for out of work Americans and gave the United State's economy a huge, and much anticipated boost.
