War Was Not Only Fought Overseas
During World War II, American civilians became part of the war effort. Factories shifted production, families rationed scarce goods, and millions of workers entered industries that had previously excluded them.
Factories at Full Speed
Automobiles, appliances and other consumer products gave way to aircraft, ships, vehicles and military equipment. Women entered industrial jobs in unprecedented numbers, symbolized by the famous image of Rosie the Riveter.
A Changed Country
The wartime economy helped pull the United States out of the Depression and accelerated social and industrial changes that continued after 1945. The home front shows how completely a modern war can affect everyday life.