The Social The Social Impact of Impact of the Warthe War

Mr. DodsonMr. Dodson

The Social Impact of the WarThe Social Impact of the War

How did African Americans, Mexican How did African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Native Americans Americans, and Native Americans experience the war at home?experience the war at home?

What difficulties did Japanese What difficulties did Japanese Americans face?Americans face?

In what ways did the war change In what ways did the war change conditions for working women?conditions for working women?

African AmericansAfrican Americans In 1941, industries searched for millions of new workers to In 1941, industries searched for millions of new workers to

meet the demands of the Lend-Lease program. Still, one meet the demands of the Lend-Lease program. Still, one out of five African American workers remained jobless.out of five African American workers remained jobless.

June 25, 1941, the President signed an Executive Order, June 25, 1941, the President signed an Executive Order, opening jobs and job training programs in defense plants to opening jobs and job training programs in defense plants to all Americans. all Americans.

As a result, during the 1940s, more than 2 million African As a result, during the 1940s, more than 2 million African Americans migrated from the South to cities in the North.Americans migrated from the South to cities in the North.

African American and white soldiers risked their lives African American and white soldiers risked their lives equally in the war. equally in the war. Yet African Americans were segregated Yet African Americans were segregated on the war front and discriminated against at home.on the war front and discriminated against at home.

In 1942, the In 1942, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was was founded in Chicago. CORE believed in using nonviolent founded in Chicago. CORE believed in using nonviolent techniques to end racism.techniques to end racism.

Mexican AmericansMexican Americans Mexican American citizens also served in the Mexican American citizens also served in the

armed forces, contributed to the wartime armed forces, contributed to the wartime economy, and faced discrimination in the U.S. economy, and faced discrimination in the U.S. during the war.during the war.

A shortage of farm laborers led the U.S. to seek A shortage of farm laborers led the U.S. to seek help from Mexico. help from Mexico.

In 1942, an agreement between the two nations In 1942, an agreement between the two nations provided for transportation, food, shelter, and provided for transportation, food, shelter, and medical attention for thousands of medical attention for thousands of braceros,braceros, Mexican farm laborers brought to work in the U.S.Mexican farm laborers brought to work in the U.S.

The program brought a rise in the Latino The program brought a rise in the Latino population of southern California. Many lived in population of southern California. Many lived in Spanish-speaking neighborhoods called Spanish-speaking neighborhoods called barriosbarrios..

Native AmericansNative Americans

The war also changed the lives of Native The war also changed the lives of Native Americans. In addition to the 25,000 Americans. In addition to the 25,000 Native Americans who joined the armed Native Americans who joined the armed forces, many others migrated to urban forces, many others migrated to urban centers to work in defense plants.centers to work in defense plants.

Life in the military or in the cities was a Life in the military or in the cities was a new experience for many Native new experience for many Native Americans who had lived only on Americans who had lived only on reservations.reservations.

For some, the cultural transition brought a For some, the cultural transition brought a sense of having lost their roots.sense of having lost their roots.

Japanese AmericansJapanese Americans Japanese Americans suffered official Japanese Americans suffered official

discrimination during the war. discrimination during the war. Hostility toward Japanese Americans grew Hostility toward Japanese Americans grew

into hatred and hysteria after Pearl Harbor.into hatred and hysteria after Pearl Harbor. In 1942, the War Relocation Authority In 1942, the War Relocation Authority

removed all people of Japanese ancestry, removed all people of Japanese ancestry, from the West Coast. from the West Coast.

They were to be They were to be internedinterned - confined in - confined in camps in remote areas - far from the coast. camps in remote areas - far from the coast.

Many Japanese Americans lost their homes, Many Japanese Americans lost their homes, possessions, and businesses.possessions, and businesses.

Japanese AmericansJapanese Americans Some people were uncomfortable with the similarities Some people were uncomfortable with the similarities

between the internment camps and the German between the internment camps and the German concentration camps. concentration camps.

The Supreme Court, however, upheld their constitutionality The Supreme Court, however, upheld their constitutionality of internment camps. of internment camps.

After 1943, Japanese Americans were accepted into the After 1943, Japanese Americans were accepted into the armed forces. Most were armed forces. Most were NiseiNisei, or citizens born in the U.S. , or citizens born in the U.S. to Japanese immigrant parents. to Japanese immigrant parents.

Many all-Nisei units won recognition for their courage in Many all-Nisei units won recognition for their courage in Europe. In fact, the soldiers of the all-Japanese 442nd Europe. In fact, the soldiers of the all-Japanese 442nd Regimental Combat Team won more medals for bravery Regimental Combat Team won more medals for bravery than any other unit in U.S. history.than any other unit in U.S. history.

Many Americans came to view internment as a great Many Americans came to view internment as a great injustice. In 1988, Congress awarded $20,000 to each injustice. In 1988, Congress awarded $20,000 to each surviving internee, and an official apology.surviving internee, and an official apology.

Working WomenWorking Women Women of all ages as well as ethnic backgrounds went Women of all ages as well as ethnic backgrounds went

to work in the wartime economy.to work in the wartime economy. The war left many factory jobs open, so women either The war left many factory jobs open, so women either

entered the work force for the first time, or left low-entered the work force for the first time, or left low-paying jobs traditionally held by women. paying jobs traditionally held by women.

Many joined the work force out a sense of patriotism; Many joined the work force out a sense of patriotism; others realized that the war increased their others realized that the war increased their employment opportunities.employment opportunities.

Often women took jobs as welders or steelworkersOften women took jobs as welders or steelworkers Rosie the RiveterRosie the Riveter (a fictional character from a song in (a fictional character from a song in

1942) became the popular name for all women who 1942) became the popular name for all women who worked in war-production jobs.worked in war-production jobs.

Working WomenWorking Women Women found that work outside the home made Women found that work outside the home made

a big difference in their lives, giving them self-a big difference in their lives, giving them self-confidence as well as economic independence.confidence as well as economic independence.

Still, women, especially African American women, Still, women, especially African American women, faced discrimination in the workplace. faced discrimination in the workplace.

They often encountered hostile reactions from They often encountered hostile reactions from other workers and less pay for the same work.other workers and less pay for the same work.

After the war, the government encouraged After the war, the government encouraged women to leave their jobs and return home. women to leave their jobs and return home.

As the economy returned to peacetime status, As the economy returned to peacetime status, twice as many women as men lost factory jobs.twice as many women as men lost factory jobs.