The 1940s in America
By 1943, every sport in America was changed and usually diminished by the war. For example, Baseball, some of the major leagues best hitters were now in the military, fighting for our country ("1943" 34). Although in January 1942, President Roosevelt declared Major League Baseball could serve as a big morale booster for the public. The country was at was, but baseball would proceed ("Wartime Baseball" 196). Also, College Football, the sport that was hit the hardest. By 1943, already over 300 colleges had abandoned the sport. That year the annual Army vs. Navy game was not played at its usual big city venue, but at West Point (NY) Army Academy ("1943" 34). Also, that year when mostly every man went to war, the women were left with what was thought to be "man's work". An illustrated character named Rosie the Riveter (right), that was popularized in posters became a symbol of women's ability to do the jobs once thought of as "man's work" Another major event in the 1940s was World War II. As 1943 approached, American was deeply involved in the war, and every able-bodied in the nation had been drafted into army forces (Teitelbaum, Michael 14). Many things were going on in the early 1940s, and a little bit too much for America to handle at the time.