Primary Source Set

World War II, Part 1: North Carolina Before Pearl Harbor

Though World War II began in September of 1939, it was not until late 1941 that North Carolina and the United States officially entered into the war. This part of the World War II lesson uses photographs, newspaper articles, and journal entries to illustrate how North Carolinians perceived the Second World War before American involvement and to describe the actions taken in North Carolina in preparation for the war.

Time Period

1940-1941

Grade Level

Undergraduate

Transcript

Mass Peace Meeting Subsides Into Calm Forum Discussion After Approaching Near Riot Disturbance During War Skit Quieted After Graham Appears, Student Leaders Make Talks By John E. Lindsay A peace rally of over 1,000 students which threatened riot in its early stages last night subsided into a calm, lengthy open forum discussion of relationships between the United States and the European war. Opening turbulently with derisive shouts from the audience and some throwing of eggs and fruit, the meeting calmed quickly after the appearance on the platform of President Frank P. Graham, who did not speak, and talks byu several student leaders representing varied points of view on the rally. President Graham rose from his seat near the front of the auditorium and approached the platform at a time when the program had been forced to a standstill by audience reaction. The President said nothing but merely looked out over the audience. He received a tremendous ovation for several minutes. The meeting then continued, under slight disturbance, until Bob Sloan, student leader explained his action in distributing a satirical handbill concerning peace and asked that the audience permit “the right of freedom of speech. Let every speaker have his say,” he urged. After Sloan’s talk the session continued quietly for about two hours. A report late last night said that Dean of Administration R.B. House had spoken during the early part of the meeting to several students outside the auditorium, pointing out that freedom of expression and orderly conduct of all open forums were two of the most valued traditions of this University. Jane Rumsey and 20 coeds opened the program with a skit featuring “We Want You Home, Boys,” a new song by Sanford Stein and Jack Page. Players Ask Chance Lee Wiggin’s satirical sketch, “WAR At Any Price,” met with varied reactions by the audience. Stanley Fuchs, character in the sketch, was hit by a rotten egg and rose to ask the packed galleries to “Just give us a chance, won’t you?” After students had voted to continue peaceably, excerpts were presented from “Bury the Dead,” an anti-war play originally produced by the Cooperative theater. Dr Graham, sitting to the right in the auditorium, rose and simply stared at the audience, silent, immoble. Applause reverberated, throughout the (Continued on page 4, column 1) auditorium after this. Bill Joslin, new CPU head, talked briefly concerning “The Nature of War.” Joslin joined with other peace speakers in keynoting British imperialism as the true cause of the war in which the world is now engaged. “How to Stay Out of War,” was discussed by Lee Manning Wiggins, national ASU chairman and Golden Fleece member. Wiggins quoted, verbatim, reports from the Nye committee investigating munitions. “We must realize,” he asserted, ‘the costs of war are too great for America to participate.” North Carolina State College was represented by Rice Randall, who outlined a plan for effective American neutrality after he attributed the cause of American participation to economic involvement. Gerald Brown, graduate student of economics, pointed out it was not economically feasible for the United States to enter. “Just as well, he stated, “it is not possible from an economic or military standpoint for Germany to invade the Western hemisphere.” “Wishful thinking,” according to George Ralston, member of the Grail and Golden Fleece, “will precipitate us in an armed European conflict.” Ralston exhorted listeners to “be energetic in their demands for peace.” Elizabeth Bowles, coed, was the final speaker. Economic involvement, she said, will “do more than any other thing to drag this country into war.” She declared “we must preserve our immunity to propaganda attempts within our own country by our own citizens.” A lengthy open forum was held after the program, a forum which featured rapid-fire thrusts and counter-thrusts by proponents of isolation and collective security.

"Mass Peace Meeting Subsides Into Calm Forum Discussion After Approaching Near Riot," The Daily Tar Heel

Before the United States entered World War II in late 1941, some Americans opposed their nation’s involvement in the war. Anti-war rallies were not uncommon, and were often held by college students. This article, featured in UNC-Chapel Hill’s student newspaper The Daily Tar Heel, details the rally organized by students on May 23, 1940. The rally included a student-composed song, an antiwar play, and multiple speeches from Carolina students who opposed U.S. involvement in the war.

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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Orange County)

World War II, Part 1: North Carolina Before Pearl Harbor

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Background

World War II had raged on for two years when Japanese forces unexpectedly attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. While the United States had remained a neutral force during the early years of the war, it was the attack on Pearl Harbor that drew the nation, and North Carolina, into the conflict.

Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States prepared itself for potential hostilities. On September 16, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Selective Training and Service Act. This law, better known as the “draft,” required American men between the ages of 21 and 35 to register for military service. Around 362,500 people from North Carolina served in the war, most of whom were drafted. 69,000 of that number were Black North Carolinians, along with 7,000 North Carolinian women. The United States also prepared for war by building and expanding military bases, particularly in North Carolina. Already-established installations like Fort Bragg experienced rapid growth in both construction and population. Sites like Fort Bragg made North Carolina the top state in training the most military personnel during World War II. 

While American soldiers trained in military bases and began to join in the fighting overseas, regular citizens had to adjust to a new life at home. War led to substantial changes in the economy and in everyday life for North Carolinians. The scarcity of certain goods, like sugar, caused the government to force citizens to ration. Factories and textile mills across North Carolina also experienced change as they shifted to producing materials for the war. Many of the workers in these factories were women, who increasingly joined the workforce to fill the positions left behind by men who were drafted or had enlisted in the armed forces. Though rationing and increased production aided the war effort, the United States continued to seek out support for their military by promoting and selling war bonds to citizens. 

Four years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the war came to an end. United States forces used two atomic bombs to attack the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945. Japan officially surrendered soon after, marking the end of the war on September 2, 1945. Although the conflict was over, World War II made a lasting impact on North Carolina. The primary sources in this collection demonstrate the social and economic effects of the Second World War on the state and exhibit some of the contributions that North Carolinians made to the war effort.

Discussion Questions

  1. Although the United States did not enter World War II until late 1941, the country still made preparations for potential hostilities. In what ways did North Carolina and its citizens prepare for the war?

  2. Take a look at the chapter from the Library Extension Publication about the United States in relation to World War II. What are the recommended readings about? Why do you think the creators of this study guide picked these readings for this topic?

  3. Military bases in North Carolina experienced a great deal of growth and expansion before the United States entered World War II. Workers were drawn to the construction at Fort Bragg, even if they were located far away. Why were workers so willing to travel to places like Fort Bragg for work? What kind of impact did the expansion of Fort Bragg and other military bases have on North Carolina?

  4. Consider The Daily Tar Heel article about the antiwar rally held by university students. Why were these students protesting American involvement in the war?

  5. More than any other state, North Carolina had the highest number of rejected draftees during World War II. The Roanoke Rapids Herald article describes the opening of a resident center to rehabilitate the young men who were rejected from serving in the armed forces. What social or economic factors may have contributed to the large rejection rate of draftees in North Carolina?

This primary source set was compiled by Isabella Walker.

Updated January 2025