Ch 11. Section 2 The Home Front

Women Work for Victory American industry made the quick switch to wartime manufacturing. Many men were overseas fighting the war and the factories needed workers, so women filled the jobs. Women would eventually make up 1/3 of the workforce.

Women Work for Victory Many women find jobs in heavy industry. This is where Rosie the Riveter makes her first appearance. The amount that women gained from working was enormous. Women made paychecks, formed new relationships, and received organizational experience. Lives changed for children as the federal government spent 50 million building day care facilities.

African Americans Demand Fair Employment Many African Americans hoped that the war would relieve their economic distress. A. Philip Randolph asserted that African Americans would no longer accept second class citizenship. They stressed the importance of a double v campaign. – Victory against fascism abroad – Victory against discrimination at home

African Americans cont. Randolph gave FDR a list of demands for the end of discriminatory practices. Under pressure, FDR passes Executive Order 8802 which ensured fair hiring practices for any job federally funded. Membership in the NAACP soared to 500,000 members. Additionally the Congress of Racial Equality is founded.

Workers on the Move Wartime started a wave of migration of people in search of work. The migration led to violence the worst occuring in Detroit, Michigan. There was a rural population drain, and to counter it the government started the Bracero Progam – Bringing Mexican workers into the US to work on farms

A Challenge to Civil Liberties At home Japanese-Americans faced many challenges. Many people on the West Coast thought the Japanese inherently disloyal, and pressured FDR into passing Executive Order 9066.

Civil Liberties Order 9066 declared certain areas war zones that anyone could be removed from for any reason. By September ,000 Japanese Americans were forced to evacuate their homes.

Japanese are Interned Japanese Americans were interned or temporarily imprisoned. They were forced to live in cramped and dirty conditions. Some Japanese Americans did take action against the government. Korematsu v. United States upheld the governments wartime decisions – In 1988 surviving internment members got a formal apology and $20,000

Japanese cont. Japanese were also discriminated against entering the armed forces. The ban would be lifted in early 1943 The all Nisei 442 nd Regimental Combat Team fought in the Italian Campaign and became the most decorated regiment in American history.

Supporting the War Effort The war eventually cost 330 billion, double the amount of federal expenditures since the beginning of the nation. Increased production of war goods led to a scarcity of consumer goods.

War Effort cont. Office of Price Administration, held the authority to control wages and set maximum prices. Rationing became the way people got consumer goods. They received coupon books that they could redeem for certain amounts of a good. Some people created a black market for ration books.

Media Boosts Morale Office of War Information (OWI) worked with the media to produce thing that would support the war effort. Frank Capra (remember him?) produced a documentary series “why we fight” War Bonds and advertising became huge during this time.