CHANGES ON THE HOMEFRONT

Japanese Internment: a refresher What does internment mean? Japanese Americans on the West Coast were moved to internment camps in the Midwest Why did they move Japanese Americans from the West Coast and not the East Coast? (HINT! Where is Japan located?) In 1988, Congress apologized to Japanese Americans who had been driven from their homes and awarded them a payment of $20,000 for every survivor Do you think this is fair?

Changes in the economy Government agencies now play a more active role in the economy and business What are some things they might try to control? Rationing of products Set the price of goods Negotiated with labor unions Decide what products should be produced What is that fancy word that means (government keeps their)hands off? LAISSEZ-FAIRE!

Changes in the economy The government set up the War Productions Board to help factories shift from making consumer goods to making guns, ships aircrafts and other materials needed for the war

SO WHAT REALLY IS A VICTORY GARDEN?

VICTORY GARDENS! Produced 40% of all veggies grown in the country during World War II Idea was to combat food shortages At least 20 million victory gardens at the height of the war What might you plant in your victory garden?

JUST A NOTE ON RATIONING What does it mean to RATION something? Coupons were issued for the rationed items. What kinds of items were rationed Coffee Sugar Meat Shoes Gasoline Tires (rubber)

Changes for Women! Lots of changes were happening for women during World War II! What are some changes that women experienced before World War II? Almost 5 million women entered the work force. Why do you think women were needed in the factories? What effects do you think this had on women’s pay? Working conditions?

Changes for Women! “if you can drive a car, you can run a machine!” What do you think this means? “Why do we need women workers?” “YOU CAN’T BUILD SHIPS, PLANES, AND GUNS WITHOUT THEM!”

African Americans and WWII What is segregation? What is discrimination? How do you think the war changed segregation and discrimination in the workforce? The war ended some of the worst discrimination against African Americans FDR ordered employers doing business with the government to end discrimination in hiring

African Americans and WWII How do you think the war changed segregation and discrimination in the military? Executive Order 8802 – ended discrimination in the military during wartime Nearly 1 million African Americans enlisted in the military or were drafted – All were commanded by white officers What about the Tuskegee Airmen? – African American fighter pilots that were the first African Americans to fly planes for the military

The Tuskegee Airmen

Mexican Americans and Puerto Rican Americans Mexican Americans and Puerto Rican Americans served for the U.S. during World War II. The need for soldiers increased dramatically after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Many won numerous awards for their service.

The Bracero Program The U.S. signed a treaty with Mexico in 1942 This program allowed the recruitment of Mexican laborers to work in the United States Worked on farms and railroads

Native Americans Native Americans supplied the highest proportion of servicemen of any ethnic group Navajo Code Talkers: soldiers using their own native Navajo language to communicate during World War II – Why might the U.S. have seen this communication as important? – What advantage did this give the United States? What disadvantage did other countries have?