Summary: Defense Bonds After Pearl Harbor

Following Pearl Harbor the United States Government formally acknowledged war with Japan, and along with a new war, there was a new army with new technology to be funded and made. One of the most prominent themes in posters all across America at the time was 'War Bonds', which were known as 'Defense Bonds' before Pearl Harbor. The idea was simple, convince the masses to buy into war bonds, a loan from the government, and they would fund the war costs. Two main factors were marketed in posters; the people investing would be acting patriotically, by supporting the troops, and they were guaranteed to be paid back, with interest, after the war. Over 130 billion dollars in bonds were sold to the public, by radio stations, school teachers and through a special payroll reduction that turned part of a paycheck directly into war bonds. Individuals and families bought 36 billion dollars and bonds, while children alone donated 1 billion to the war effort3. …show more content…
This was done with powerful themes, Womanpower, as all of the women in the country were still at home, and 'Victory Gardens'. When the men left to fight in the pacific and in Europe, they left their jobs behind. At the time it was unheard of for a woman to work in a position that was considered a "man's job", such as factory work or a job that required heavy lifting. So when the men left, there was no one left in the industrious districts to make weapons and technology for the war. The government noticed that the women were sitting idly by at their homes, and decided to persuade them to work in factories and fill in for the