First published 2011
Craig Shirley examines how thirty-one days in December 1941 transformed the United States from an isolationist nation into a global power. The book follows America day by day through this pivotal month, beginning with a country at peace on December 1st, troubled mainly by Depression-era unemployment. Shirley traces the dramatic shift that occurred after Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7th, when isolationist sentiment disappeared overnight and both political parties embraced internationalism. The author documents how quickly American society adapted to wartime conditions. Food and gas rationing began, Victory Gardens sprouted across neighborhoods, and scrap drives mobilized civilians. The military draft expanded while Detroit's factories converted to weapons production, earning the city its "arsenal of democracy" nickname. Women seeking employment flooded into industrial centers, spurring rapid construction of apartment buildings and entertainment venues funded by massive federal spending increases. Shirley presents a detailed portrait of American society during this month of radical change, examining how ordinary people, institutions, and culture responded to the nation's sudden entry into World War II.
Genres: history, 20th-century, world-war-ii, non-fiction, military-history, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-drama, social-change
Setting: America, Detroit, Pearl Harbor
Period: December 1941
645 pages · Hardcover · Thomas Nelson Inc