December 7December 7ThTh 19411941

A Costly ProsperityA Costly Prosperity The entrance of the United States in The entrance of the United States in

the war had an enormous impact on the war had an enormous impact on the economy of South Carolina, as the economy of South Carolina, as well as the rest of the nation. The well as the rest of the nation. The effects were felt by every effects were felt by every demographic of society. It was a time demographic of society. It was a time of great prosperity and of great of great prosperity and of great sacrifice. sacrifice.

Revitalizing the EconomyRevitalizing the Economy Every aspect of South Carolina’s Every aspect of South Carolina’s

economy was impacted by the war. economy was impacted by the war.

Due to the increased demand for Due to the increased demand for cotton and other produce, the state’s cotton and other produce, the state’s agriculture , saw its wages more than agriculture , saw its wages more than double. double.

Textile mills increased their labor Textile mills increased their labor force and production in order to keep force and production in order to keep up with war-time production goals. up with war-time production goals. The mills operated in three shifts The mills operated in three shifts around the clock. around the clock.

Military bases throughout the state Military bases throughout the state employed thousands of civilians. employed thousands of civilians.

The Charleston Navy Yard produced The Charleston Navy Yard produced more than three hundred medium more than three hundred medium and small sized vessels and repaired and small sized vessels and repaired numerous others. numerous others.

As many as seventy-two thousand As many as seventy-two thousand workers found employment in workers found employment in defense-related firms. (Edgar et. al defense-related firms. (Edgar et. al 1998, 513)1998, 513)

Reinventing the Roles of Men and Reinventing the Roles of Men and WomanWoman

As the war progressed, more than As the war progressed, more than 180,000 South Carolinians, including 180,000 South Carolinians, including 2,500 women, joined the armed 2,500 women, joined the armed services. services.

Many people, particularly African-Many people, particularly African-Americans, left the state and moved Americans, left the state and moved north in search of greater north in search of greater opportunities. opportunities.

All of these things created a drastic All of these things created a drastic reduction in rural South Carolina’s reduction in rural South Carolina’s labor force. In order to supply the labor force. In order to supply the needed workers, farmers employed needed workers, farmers employed more women and children in the more women and children in the fields. fields.

Although urban populations Although urban populations increased, the war-time demands for increased, the war-time demands for production made it necessary for production made it necessary for industries to employ women to industries to employ women to perform jobs once held by men perform jobs once held by men alone. A woman’s place was no alone. A woman’s place was no longer to be just in the home. (Edgar longer to be just in the home. (Edgar 1998, 513-515)1998, 513-515)

Labor shortages not only created Labor shortages not only created opportunities for women, they also opportunities for women, they also created opportunities for African-created opportunities for African-Americans. Americans.

In spite of long held prejudices, In spite of long held prejudices, necessity forced Charleston necessity forced Charleston industries to accept more African-industries to accept more African-American workers. American workers.

The percentage of African-Americans The percentage of African-Americans working in Charleston’s defense working in Charleston’s defense industries increased from about 14 industries increased from about 14 percent in 1936 to about 36 percent percent in 1936 to about 36 percent in 1942. (Hamer 2005, 88)(Horne in 1942. (Hamer 2005, 88)(Horne 2006, 503)2006, 503)

Over a million African-Americans Over a million African-Americans were drafted or volunteered for were drafted or volunteered for military service. military service.

Rationing and RecyclingRationing and Recycling At the home front, life was At the home front, life was

characterized by war bonds, characterized by war bonds, collections for relief agencies, collections for relief agencies, rationing and numerous recycling rationing and numerous recycling drives. drives.

. Items important to the war effort, . Items important to the war effort, such as, gasoline, lard, tires, as well such as, gasoline, lard, tires, as well as food items like coffee, tea, and as food items like coffee, tea, and sugar were rationed. sugar were rationed.

Money was collected for the National Money was collected for the National War Fund, a relief agency providing War Fund, a relief agency providing entertainment for the troops, food, entertainment for the troops, food, clothing, and medical aid for war torn clothing, and medical aid for war torn countries and war prisoners. countries and war prisoners.

Recycling drives for cooking oil, Recycling drives for cooking oil, rubber, paper, and various metals rubber, paper, and various metals were common. were common.

The war brought prosperity to South The war brought prosperity to South Carolina, but it didn’t come without Carolina, but it didn’t come without sacrifice. South Carolina had over sacrifice. South Carolina had over 5000 fatal casualties during the war. 5000 fatal casualties during the war. The sacrifices made by these brave The sacrifices made by these brave men and women makes all the other men and women makes all the other sacrifices pale in comparison. sacrifices pale in comparison. Thousands more were wounded and Thousands more were wounded and maimed. maimed.

Edgar, Walter. Edgar, Walter. South Carolina A South Carolina A HistoryHistory. Columbia, S.C.: University of . Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press, 1998.South Carolina Press, 1998.

Hamer, Fritz P. Hamer, Fritz P. Charleston RebornCharleston Reborn, , Charleston, S.C.: The History Press, Charleston, S.C.: The History Press, 2005.2005.