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Opportunity and Adjustment
Time of Opportunity for many Americans
After WWII, U.S emerged as a dominant and economic world power.
Economic Gains and Population Shifts
Unemployment fell to 1.2 percent
Weekly paychecks rose 35% during the war.
Farmers prospered and income tripled
Over 6 million women entered the work force in more challenging work with better pay
More families moved especially to where there were defense jobs
Social Adjustments
Families were usually headed by single mothers causing children to be taken care of by neighbors or relatives
New families created. Marriage licenses went up by about 300% in Seattle alone.
GI Bill- bill passed for returning servicemen to help adjust to new life. Provided education, training and federal loans to help buy houses.
Discrimination and Reaction
African Americans moved out of the south in record numbers.
Faced discrimination everywhere
Racial Riots-Detroit 25 blacks dead and 9
whites over rumors
Zoot Suits
1943-Los Angeles Type of dress worn by
Mexican Americans as a form of rebellion
Sailors reported they had been attacked by Mexican Americans wearing Zoot Suits
Led to 2 nights of violence in which many innocent civilians were beaten.
Bracero Program
During WWII, there was an emergence of need for skilled laborers
A partnership between Mexico and U.S. led to the Bracero program.
Thousands of Mexicans left their homeland for a period of time to work in the fields, then they would return home.
However many were continually harassed and discriminated against.
Native Americans
Navajo Code TalkersImpossible for Japanese to break.Used to describe Native Americans who
served in the USMCPrimary job was the transmission of secret
messages. Code talkers transmitted these messages over military telephone or radio.
Used codes built upon their native languages. Oral, not written language.
Rationing
Rationing was used to maintain supply of essential products to the war effort.
Food quantity is allocated
Gasoline has restrictions
Luxuries are limited
Victory Gardens
Used to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort.
A civil “morale” booster
War Bonds
Debt securities issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war.
Affordable for all citizens