Major Question, “How did the U.S. Respond to the

Declaration of War?

16 Million Americans served in WWII. People of many different ethnic groups joined the military.

African Americans served in segregated units.

Women could join the military and serve in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). Some were nurses.

The govt. started a War Production Board in 1942. It would move the peace economy to a war one.

The govt. would decide how scarce resources were used, negotiate contracts, work with labor, and control inflation (Office of War Mobilization did these).

Ford began making thousands of bombers for the U.S. Army Air force.

Henry J. Kaiser made thousands of merchant ships to deliver goods (Liberty Ships).

General Douglas MacArthur tried to hold the Philippines in late 1941 (lacked equipment).

The Americans lost other islands and then the Japanese came to take the Philippines. Americans were under siege at Corregidor.

The Americans held out until May 1942. The Japanese forced survivors to march with little food, or clean water.

7000 Americans died of the 75 thousand that surrendered. It became known as the Bataan Death March.

By 1942 Japan threatened to dominate much of the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, Australia, and New Zealand.

It was a planned bombing raid against Tokyo (led by Colonel James Doolittle). It was in response to the Pearl Harbor attack. Bombers were launched from the carrier U.S.S. Hornet.

The raid served more as a morale booster.

It was a battle fought May 7-8, 1942. The Japanese threatened to invade New Guinea and move into Australia.

It was a carrier (planes) battle at sea (no direct shooting). The battle was a draw, but the Japanese called off their invasion.