Building the Military
Q: What act started the military draft before the U.S. entered WWII?
A: The Selective Training and Service Act.
Q: What board oversaw the switch from consumer goods to war supplies?
A: The War Production Board.
Q: How much did the U.S. spend on WWII?
A: Over $320 billion.
Q: What system limited how much people could buy of certain items?
A: Rationing.
Q: What did Americans plant to help with food shortages?
A: Victory Gardens.
Q: How many Americans served in the military during WWII?
A: Over 15 million.
Q: What agency helped settle worker disputes during the war?
A: The National War Labor Board.
Q: What 1942 law raised taxes to help pay for the war?
A: The Revenue Act of 1942.
Q: What did families use to buy rationed items?
A: Ration stamps.
Q: What did kids collect to help with making weapons?
A: Scrap metal.
Q: What does “GI” stand for?
A: Government Issue.
Q: Which industry switched completely to war production by 1942?
A: The automobile industry.
Q: What new tax practice began during WWII?
A: Withholding taxes from paychecks.
Q: What type of news did families fear receiving from the war front?
A: News that a loved one was wounded, missing, or killed.
Q: What did volunteer spotters do to help defend the country?
A: Watched for enemy aircraft.
Q: How many weeks of basic training did soldiers go through?
A: 8 weeks.
Q: How many women joined the workforce during WWII?
A: About 2.5 million.
Q: What did Americans buy to help fund the war?
A: War bonds.
Q: What household items were collected for their metal?
A: Toothpaste and shave cream tubes.
Q: Why did coastal cities have blackouts at night?
A: To hide from enemy planes.
What kinds of jobs did women do in the military during WWII?
A: Office work, nursing, and flying planes between bases.
Q: Where did many women work during the war?
A: Factories, shipyards, and airplane plants.
Q: Who promoted war bond sales to the public?
A: Celebrities and movie stars.
Q: What emotional sacrifice did many families make during WWII?
A: Being separated from loved ones in the military.
Q: What was the role of the Office of War Information (OWI)?
A: To spread patriotic messages and keep Americans motivated.