LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Advanced Placement United States History

Goal 13: World War II (1930-1945): The learner will trace the reemergence of the United States in world affairs, including analyzing the causes and effects of the United States involvement in World War II.

Objective 13.04. Analyze the impact of World War II on political, economic, and social life of the United States.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

Winners in North Carolina's Feed a Fighter Program
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 8.8
This letter from the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service announced the winners in North Carolina's "Feed a Fighter" program -- the 4-H members who grew the most food for the war effort. The winners were Sullivan Fisher and Edna Vann Lewis, both of Nash County. Includes historical commentary.
Format: report/primary source
Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert.
War bonds
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 7.10
The United States Government spent some $300 billion during World War II -- more than $4 trillion in today's money. Most of that money had to be borrowed. To finance the war, the government issued savings bonds.
Format: article
By David Walbert.
Victory Gardens
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 8.2
In North Carolina History: A Sampler, page 9.7
During World War II, with fresh and canned food in short supply, Americans planted "victory gardens" and canned fruits and vegetables at home. This page includes a government film, an excerpt from an instructional booklet, promotional posters, and links to contemporary magazine articles about victory gardens.
Format: exhibit
By David Walbert.
Rosie the Riveter
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 7.5
With men needed in the armed forces during World War II, women took over jobs traditionally reserved for men, including heavy industrial work. Includes a recording of the song "Rosie the Riveter."
Format: article
Rationing
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 7.9
In North Carolina History: A Sampler, page 7.8
Feeding and supplying 3.5 million soldiers and sailors on active duty strained the nation's farms and factories to the limit -- at a time when fewer workers were available. In 1942, the government began rationing food and consumer goods for the duration of the war.
Format: exhibit/primary source
By David Walbert.
Racial discrimination in the Army
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 6.5
In North Carolina History: A Sampler, page 5.5
Interviews with African American veterans of World War II about their experiences as soldiers. Includes historical commentary.
Format: interview/primary source
North Carolina's wartime miracle: Defending the nation
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 7.3
In North Carolina History: A Sampler, page 2.10
After the United States entered World War II, North Carolina became one of the leading states in the nation's growing military efforts. This article looks at the state's contributions and the war's impact on North Carolina.
Format: article
By John S. Duvall.
Music and morale
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 6.6
In North Carolina History: A Sampler, page 9.10
The military recognized early on that music could keep soldiers' and sailors' morale up, and popular music became a way to entertain servicemen. The government pressed special records, called V-Discs (V for Victory), featuring popular artists. The recordings on this page include the song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and a German-language propaganda broadcast of Glenn Miller's "In the Mood."
Format: music
Mobilizing for war
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 4.6
The U.S. entry into World War II required rapid and massive buildup of the armed forces and industrial production to supply the war effort. this page includes a clip from a documentary produced by the U.S. Government in 1942 showing scenes of wartime production.
Format: documentary
The Japanese-American Internment
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 7.4
Announcement of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and orders to Japanese Americans in San Francisco. Includes historical commentary.
Format: poster/primary source
Food for fighters
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 8.1
To feed the 3.5 million men in active service by the end of World War II, the military needed massive quantities of food in small, lightweight, durable packages. The government spent millions of dollars developing various types of rations for soldiers and sailors. This article includes a U.S. Government film about the science and technology behind military rations.
Format: exhibit
By David Walbert.
Feed a Fighter in Forty-Four
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 8.6
This pamphlet was sent by the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service to 4-H members and other interested youth in the spring of 1944 as part of the ongoing "Feed a Fighter" campaign to mobilize youth to aid the war effort during World War II. Includes historical commentary.
Format: pamphlet/primary source
Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert.
Face to face with segregation: African American marines at Camp Lejune
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 6.3
Service in the Marine Corps during World War II brought African Americans to North Carolina's Camp Lejune, where they faced discrimination that many from the North were unfamiliar with.
Format: article
The experiences of black soldiers
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 6.4
This UNC-TV documentary looks at the experiences of black North Carolinians in World War II.
Format: documentary
Enlistment for Victory (1943)
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 8.5
This "Enlistment for Victory" letter was given to boys and girls as part of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service's "Mobilization for Victory" campaign during World War II. The first part introduces the program; the second is a list of projects that kids could take on. Includes historical commentary.
Format: letter/primary source
Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert.
Enlisting
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 6.1
Oral history interview with a North Carolina man about his experience enlisting in the U.S. Navy after Pearl Harbor. Includes historical commentary.
Format: interview/primary source
Commentary and sidebar notes by L. Maren Wood.
Calling for sacrifice
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 7.1
In this "fireside chat" radio address, delivered in April 1942, President Roosevelt asked Americans to make sacrifices for the war effort. Includes historical commentary.
Format: speech/primary source
Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert.
Basic training
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 6.2
Oral history interview with a North Carolina man about his experiences after being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942. Includes historical commentary.
Format: interview/primary source
Commentary and sidebar notes by L. Maren Wood.
4-H mobilization for victory (1943)
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 8.4
In this letter to local extension agents, the North Carolina Director of Extension, J. O. Shaub, explained what 4-H clubs needed to do to mobilize youth to aid the war effort during World War II. Includes historical commentary.
Format: pamphlet/primary source
Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert.
4-H club contributions to the war effort
In The Great Depression and World War II, page 8.7
This page includes three reports sent by county agents of the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service after the war ended. Each county agent outlined the contributions of 4-H club members in his or her county to the war effort. Includes historical commentary.
Format: report/primary source
Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans