STEP #3 - Building America’s Defense
By the late 1930s, Roosevelt asked Congress to increase spending for national defense. After years of isolationism, the United States was militarily weak. Critics pointed out that 18 countries had larger armies, the navy could hardly protect the Panama Canal, and that Italy's air force had more firepower than that of the United States.
The U.S. government's first effort to begin preparations for war came with the creation of the War Resources Board (WRB). The board was to produce a plan identifying what would be needed to mobilize the nation's industries. Also in 1939, the military released its own Industrial Mobilization Plan. Following the fall of France in June 1940 and the beginning of a German air assault on Britain later that summer, Roosevelt brought back the National Defense Advisory Commission (NDAC). The NDAC had previously existed during World War I (1914–1918). The commission was composed of members representing labor, agriculture, industry, and public consumers. Roosevelt was still facing an isolationist Congress and public, and an industry not eager to shift its focus from consumer goods to war materials. Roosevelt believed the NDAC could better overcome these hurdles than he could acting alone. Congress significantly boosted defense spending in 1940 and passed the first peacetime military draft for the United States. The commission, however, had little authority except to advise what action it thought was needed. Mobilization continued to progress slowly. Despite these planning efforts, little translated into actual action and few new jobs resulted
The U.S. government's first effort to begin preparations for war came with the creation of the War Resources Board (WRB). The board was to produce a plan identifying what would be needed to mobilize the nation's industries. Also in 1939, the military released its own Industrial Mobilization Plan. Following the fall of France in June 1940 and the beginning of a German air assault on Britain later that summer, Roosevelt brought back the National Defense Advisory Commission (NDAC). The NDAC had previously existed during World War I (1914–1918). The commission was composed of members representing labor, agriculture, industry, and public consumers. Roosevelt was still facing an isolationist Congress and public, and an industry not eager to shift its focus from consumer goods to war materials. Roosevelt believed the NDAC could better overcome these hurdles than he could acting alone. Congress significantly boosted defense spending in 1940 and passed the first peacetime military draft for the United States. The commission, however, had little authority except to advise what action it thought was needed. Mobilization continued to progress slowly. Despite these planning efforts, little translated into actual action and few new jobs resulted
Congress also passed the nation's first peacetime military draft by wide margins in both houses. Under the Selective Training and Service Act (also called the Burke-Wadsworth Act), 16 million men between the ages of 21 and 35 were registered. Of these, 1 million were to be drafted for one year. Roosevelt himself read aloud the first draft numbers in a public announcement. "This is a most solemn ceremony," he told a national radio audience. "It is accompanied by no fanfare - no blowing of bugles or beating of drums. There should be none."
With each step Roosevelt took against the Axis powers, the roar of the isolationists grew louder. In August 1941, they voiced their opposition to a bill to extend the draft for another 18 months. Congress passed the draft-extension bill, but only by a razor-thin margin of 203 to 202 in the House of Representatives.
With each step Roosevelt took against the Axis powers, the roar of the isolationists grew louder. In August 1941, they voiced their opposition to a bill to extend the draft for another 18 months. Congress passed the draft-extension bill, but only by a razor-thin margin of 203 to 202 in the House of Representatives.