The American Vision Volume 2, Alabama Edition

The Depression and World War II

As you learned from reading this chapter, World War II not only impacted the lives of the soldiers who served, but the American home front was greatly affected by the war. As more and more men left the civilian workforce to join the war effort, employers faced severe labor shortages and women found themselves without fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons. Women stepped in, tenaciously fulfilling their new roles as soldiers on the home front. To gain a better understanding of and deeper appreciation for their efforts, visit the Redstone Web site and read "Women at War".

Destination Title:  Redstone Arsenal Web site

Directions:  Begin at the Redstone Arsenal Web site

• Read the article titled "Women at War" and take notes as you go.
• For additional information, view the short film based on the article.
• After you've read the article, complete the following questions.

1			Why did the U.S. Army have such a difficult time recruiting employees for the Huntsville and Redstone Arsenals? Cite at least three reasons, excluding the fact that men were leaving the workforce to join the army.
2			In addition to taking care of families and working on production lines, how did women actively contribute to the war effort?
3			What reasons did the production soldiers of the Redstone and Huntsville Arsenals give for their hard work?
4			What feminine touches did the production soldiers bring to their jobs and the workplace?
5			In what ways did the U.S. Army help women balance the challenges of work and home?
6			Life on the home front was stressful. What did the U.S. Army do to help Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal employees to relieve stress and boost morale?
7			Imagine you are a recruitment officer for the Huntsville and Redstone Arsenals. Using what you’ve learned from this article, create a recruitment poster aimed at women. Once you are finished with your poster, share it with your classmates. To view authentic World War II posters, visit Northwestern University’s World War II poster site.