How the States and the Federal Government Fought World War II Together – and Apart

The American experience of World War II was not solely shaped by generals, presidents, or the foreign enemy; it was also shaped by the dynamic interplay between state governments and the federal government. As the United States transformed from a depression-ravaged republic into the world’s industrial superpower, that transformation required massive coordination across federal and state lines. Yet, as with many aspects of American governance, this collaboration was marked not just by unity of purpose but also by constitutional friction and competing priorities.

At the heart of the wartime expansion was federal supremacy. The Roosevelt administration dramatically expanded Washington’s reach through agencies like the War Production Board, the Office of Price Administration, and the Selective Service System. States had to comply with sweeping national policies, including rationing protocols, labor regulations, and military recruitment. Governors found themselves subordinate to federal mandates, especially as military installations, shipyards, and factories mushroomed across their jurisdictions – often without their input. In practice, state governments served more as partners in implementation than co-equal decision-makers in the war strategy.

Nonetheless, states played vital roles as logistical, political, and moral actors in mobilization. They were responsible for administering ration coupons, operating civil defense programs, and enforcing…