Rosie the Riveter “All day long, whether rain or shine, She’s part of the assembly line. She’s making history, Working for victory, Rosie the Riveter.” Listen to song from Witness History (audio) Disc 3 Track 3 How were women making history?

New Economic Opportunities American Industry quickly converted to war production Once industry exhausted the available men..they turned to women Government launched an all-out government campaign urging women to do their part In time, women made up 1/3 of the wartime workforce

Women work for victory Short Term Trend Long Term trend Blue/White collar ¾ of women were married and 60% were older than 35 Blue collared workers were expected to step aside at the end of the war Long Term trend White collar workers did not step aside and women employed as such increased five-fold Government spent $50 million building DAYCARE centers for children of working mothers With fathers at work and mothers at work—what do we do with the children?

African-Americans Demand Fair Employment Double “V” campaign Victory against fascism and victory against discrimination A. Philip Randolph Labor leader who organized a march on Washington FDR-fearing the site of a march would undermine war unity issued Executive Order 8802 Assured fair hiring practices OUTCOME: Wartime developments helped set the agenda for the Civil Rights struggles

Workers on the Move The Population starts to shift After receiving billions to fund industry, the South and Southwest boomed US partnered with Mexico to operate the bracero program, bringing labor from Mexico to work on US farms Migration triggers conflict 1943-wartime migration led to racial violence Detroit, MI 100,000 blacks and whites broke into scattered fights Full scale riots erupted in which 34 people died Los Angeles, CA Mexicans dressed in “zoot suits” aggravated racial tensions. Mobs of off-duty sailors attacked the “zooters” Once fighting ended, the “zooters” were arrested Wartime needs encouraged migration California alone gained 2 million new residents seeking work in the state’s many shipyards and other wartime industries.

A challenge of Civil Liberties Aliens Face Restrictions Japanese-aliens and Japanese-Americans citizens Considered a “threat” Feb, 1942, FDR issued Exec. Order 9066-designated certain areas to be “war zones” from which anyone may be removed for any reason By Sept. 1942 100,000 Japanese-Americans were evacuated on the West Coast Forced to sell their property at a loss

Japanese-Americans are Interned War Dept issued a policy of “internment” Temporary imprisonment Located in isolated locations (Poston, Arizona, Gila Indian Reservation) Most were interned throughout the entire war Conditions: Families in one-room shacks Singles-herded into bunkhouses Camp schools-underfunded Food shortages Substandard medical care Psychological effects

Reparations 1944-Korematsu v. United States Upheld the wartime internment policy 1988-Government offered an apology and $20,000 payments to survivors Japanese-Americans still served Ban lifted as of 1943 442nd Regimental Combat Team The most highly decorated military unit in American history. Some went to court to seek their rights

Supporting the War Effort War costs: $330 billion dollars 5% tax on all working Americans War Bonds Rationing Wages/Prices regulated Planted “victory gardens” Recycled How did they support that financial loss?