Transcript World War II at home

World War II at home
Economic Opportunities
As men went to war – women take on role of working in the factories – gov’t and
industries used publicity campaign - eventually women made up 1/3 of work force
Jobs for women fell outside the traditional role
and many were married and over 35
Women’s attitudes change – earning a living,
forming new types of relationships and having
more confidence
Gov’t builds day care centers for working
women and children’s lives change – working
women, although not going to be the norm for
a long time, becomes more acceptable
African Americans
Jobs and military remain segregated
‘Double V’ program – victory against fascism in Europe and against discrimination
at home
Philip Randolph – labor leader who said African Americans should not accept
second-class citizenship (are there any minorities today who are second-class
citizens) – takes demands to FDR
FDR had hoped to place civil rights on back burner during war, but not
wanting a large protest, issues Executive Order 8802 – assured fair hiring practices in
any job funded with gov’t money and est. the Fair Employment Practices Committee
to enforce it
1942 CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) is formed seeking non-violent protest
ways to fight segregation
Demographics
The population shifts as people migrate to where the jobs are during the War
Gov’t, during New Deal, provided $$ to fund industry and South grew into a
political, cultural, and economic force.
As urban areas grow, rural areas (farmers) suffer; to combat it the U.S. partners
with Mexico to create the bracero program – bringing laborers from Mexico to
work on farms – beginning of long tradition of migrant workers to West
http://on.aol.com/video/the-mexican-braceros-program-300994240
Migrants and Conflict
Detroit sees one of the worst incidences of racial violence due to wartime migration
Construction of housing for black workers caused it – 100,000 whites and blacks
broke into scattered fights at a city park – leading to full-scale riots the next day –
Feds have to end it
Mexican Americans continued to struggle – not assimilating well – young men
wore zoot suits and off duty sailors, in 1943, roamed LA attacking them – Zooters
were arrested not the sailors
Civil Liberties during war time
After Pearl Harbor – Americans became afraid of ‘enemy aliens’ (immigrants) –
Germans, Italians, Japanese
Eventually Germans and Italians are taken off the enemy list
Feb. 1942, FDR issues Executive Order 9066 – certain areas are war zones and
people may be removed for any reason
by Sept. more than 100,000 Japanese Americans are evacuated
Issei – Japanese immigrants and Nisei – Native-born American citizens –
forced to sell their property at a loss and only allowed to take necessary items
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/japanese-americanrelocation/videos/japanese-internment-in-america
The Internment
Internment is the temporary imprisonment of members of a specific group
as Japanese were evacuated, Governors did not want to be ‘dumping
ground’ – so feds take over – stay in camps for duration of war
Some Japanese Americans sued – Korematsu v U.S. – Supreme Court supports
federal gov’ts right to do this – in 1988, Gov’t apologizes and pays surviving internees
$20,000.
Not allowed to serve in military at first, eventually they can enlist – 442nd Regimental
Combat Team – fought in Italian campaign and was the most decorated military unit
in American history
Support at Home
Cost of war was $330 billion - national debt went up from 42 billion to 269 billion
5% tax on all working Americans (and most were working finally) and encouraged
them to buy war bonds – an investment in the war effort
Need for war products leads to scarcity of many products – prices increase and fear that
inflation would rear its ugly head
FDR creates the Office of Price Administration – controlled wages and set
max. prices (allowable under wartime powers)
Rationing was also instituted – coupon books that allowed certain amount of
goods/month – creates a black market for goods and coupon books
Media helps keep morale up – Office of War Information works to spotlight common
needs, minimize racial and economic divisions, and downplay poverty and crime
Hollywood helps with movies and training type films – Frank Capra’s Why We Fight
series highlights need to defeat fascism – stars put on shows for troops – patriotic films
emphasize need to win
Can it be good and/or bad?