WWII: the Homefront Mr. Turner

Women Help with the War Effort The war drastically changed the role of women in the US Over 6 million women entered the workforce Women did clerical work as well as well as “heavy industry” work in defense factories 200,000 women joined the military in noncombat roles

“Rosie the Riveter”

African-Americans Demand Equal Treatment Government and military jobs remained segregated National defense employers hired few African-Americans Started the “Double V” campaign - victory abroad against fascism and victory at home against discrimination

FDR Responds FDR did not want to deal with Civil Rights during the war, however; A. Philip Randolph organized and threatened a march on Washington FDR issued Exec. Order 8802 - fair hiring practices and established the Fair Employment Practices Commission NAACP membership grew - set the course for Civil Rights campaigns in the future

Mexican Americans and WWII The US started the bracero program - brought Mexican workers to work on American farms Brought several hundred thousand Mexican laborers to US Mexican-Americans faced discrimination Zoot suit Riots Many Mexican-American youths wore zoot suits Mobs of off-duty sailors attacked the “zooters” “Zooters” were arrested rather than the sailors

Civil Liberties Challenged “Enemy aliens” had to register with the government German, Italian, and Japanese aliens were arrested or deported if deemed threats to US FDR eventually removed Germans and Italians from the enemy alien list However, Japanese Alien, and Japanese Americans were not removed

Japanese-Americans FDR issued Exec. Order 9066 in 1942 - created war zones where anyone may be removed for any reason Over 100,000 Japanese immigrants and citizens were forced to move from the west coast The War Department created internment camps for people of Japanese heritage

Japanese-Americans Korematsu v. United States - Supreme Court upheld that wartime internment policy Certain civil liberties can be taken away during wartime 1988- Citizens who had been interned were offered an apology and $20,000

Supporting the War Effort Victory Gardens War Bonds Rationing Oil, butter, tires, food Propaganda Office of War Information worked with media to create support for the war Recycling Metal, rubber, paper