The Second World War (1939–1945) was the most devastating war in human history. The war left seventy million people dead and millions more wounded or maimed; it turned vast portions of the highly populated industrialized world into a veritable wasteland of human and environmental destruction; and it changed the nature of human conflict by introducing new military tactics and horrifying new weapons with potentially devastating consequences for all of humanity.

World War II spanned the globe and affected not only the major belligerent powers but also almost all of the world’s nations and colonies. The military engagements of World War II spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but the “battlefields” of the war spread even further. In reality, mobilization for the war went far beyond the military engagements and required many more individuals than just the soldiers in the field. Caught in the middle of all of this destruction and violence were tens of millions of ordinary people trying to make sense of their lives. The vast majority of people did not fight on the battlefields of Europe or Asia but remained on the home front and tried to live normal lives. Those in the United States were no exception.

Citizens across America were affected by the war and the war effort. While many Americans joined the U.S. armed forces to serve their country, many more remained home to work in the war industries, building planes and tanks for example, while others filled the vacated positions left by those serving in the military. In addition, Americans at home experienced rationing as a result of supply shortages and were not able to purchase many consumer items to which they were accustomed as the industries that produced them were now making war materials. Amidst these profound changes, families across the United States waited and prayed for the safe return from the battlefield of their loved ones.

Possibly the most significant change on the American home front was an expanded understanding of American citizenship. As fifteen million young men left to serve their country, many previously excluded individuals stepped up to fill the void. Women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans took positions in war industries, supported material drives, joined the military, and supported the war effort in other ways across America. These individuals not only tangibly contributed to victory, but also proved their abilities, patriotism, and value to a new generation of Americans. Despite these advances, terrible acts of racism and injustice still occurred, including the 1942 executive order authorizing the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans from the West Coast and the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots that erupted in Los Angeles between servicemen and Mexican Americans. While many hurdles remained before equality would be codified in the United States, the contribution of these individuals during wartime opened the pathway to a more inclusive and equitable America.