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 AmericansJobs 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

DemographicsThe 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 ConflictDetroit 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-american-relocation/videos/japanese-internment-in-america

The InternmentInternment 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 HomeCost 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?

Propaganda