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Pearl Harbor bombing and entering WWII
Summary on the Pearl Harbor bombing and WWII
As FDR and the American people were fighting against the Great Depression, Fascism was rising in Europe and Japan as Hitler wanted to keep expanding his power and to obtain more land. The United States first declared neutrality as WWII began but they entered once the Japanese dropped bombs on one of America's military bases, Pearl Harbor. The Great Depression was lifted once the United States entered the war, men left to fight while women took up the workforce at the other end.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor; millions of men were enlisted in the armed forces but so were many women. However, they were enlisted with non-combat duties but were known as “woman in arms” in the army, navy and Coast Guard.
Because men went to fight, there was a huge labor shortage. More than 6 million women workers began to work in the factories while the men left for war. While many were mothers, the government established a day care for the children.
After the war, women wanted to continue working in the factories. The war caused a huge impact on the roles of women, which many felt was a beginning of a revolution in their citizenship. However, there were still some women who did not work in the wartime economy as they continued to be perfect housewives; which is being a mother and wife (traditional role that society thought women should do).
When the war ended, two-thirds of women left the work force. Many were forced out of their jobs as previous workers (men) would come back to their jobs. While some would fight for the right to stay and work; others would volunteer to leave as they return home and became a housewife to take care of the family and husband.
The Postwar era would see the opportunities for employment for women but also the era of “baby boomers” and living in the suburbs. But, America would have the impact of the revolution of women’s status during the postwar; leading to the civil rights movement after 1945.
WWII touched the lives of Americans (men and women) deeply. It helped lead them out of the Great Depression and into an era of prosperity.