World War II at home

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World War II at home
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Economic Opportunities
As men went to war women take on role of
working in the factories govt and industries
used publicity campaign - eventually women made
up 1/3 of work force
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Jobs for women fell outside the traditional role
and many were married and over 35 Womens
attitudes change earning a living, forming new
types of relationships and having more
confidence Govt builds day care centers for
working women and childrens lives change
working women, although not going to be the norm
for a long time, becomes more acceptable
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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 govt 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
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Demographics
The population shifts as people migrate to where
the jobs are during the War Govt, 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-progr
am-300994240
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Migrants and Conflict
Detroit sees one of the worst incidences of
racial violence due to wartime migration Construc
tion 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
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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/japanes
e-american-relocation/videos/japanese-internment-i
n-america
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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
govts right to do this in 1988, Govt
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
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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
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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 Capras Why We Fight series
highlights need to defeat fascism stars put on
shows for troops patriotic films emphasize need
to win
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Propaganda

• Can it be good and/or bad?

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