Civil Rights during WWII Objective: Analyze the civil rights violations during WWII Std

Japanese

Japanese Americans Pearl Harbor – How does this effect Americans Easy to separate Japanese from Americans Ex Order 9066 – FDR authorized – Place Japanese away from West Coast Forced removal from their own land

Korematsu vs US Japanese Am - Fred Korematsu (Nisei) sued American gov on Constitutionality of Order 9066 Based on 5 th Amend – abuse of gov authority, “due process” Ruled ok because protected against espionage More important than individual rights Over turned in 1983

German/Italian Americans

German & Italian Aliens Some were required to report to internment camps like the Japanese Others required to register with post office as “enemy aliens” Under Alien and Sedition Acts 1798 then Sedition Acts of 1918 – natives, citizens, denizens or subjects… of any foreign nation or government with which the United States is at war...are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured and removed as alien enemies.. – Usually place in the middle of the country

Jews

Final Solution Genocide of All European Jews All undesirables – Jews, Mentally/Physically Handicapped, Gypsies, Homosexuals Placed Jews in Extermination camps – None of which were in Germany

Women

Women in Military Once again took jobs while men were fighting in the war. Helped to continue the push for equality

Women - The Rise of Rosie A. The Hidden Army Up to and especially in the Great Depression: unacceptable white, married women work outside the home: taking men’s jobs WWII: 50% more women (7 million) working – SF: 2xDetroit: 5x # of wives working doubled

Attitudes changed: patriotic duty: the “Hidden Army” on the “Homefront” (actively fighting war) Can  duty: women pressured to work

Black women benefited most from changing jobs – $3/week  $48/week New jobs gave: money, sense of pride and accomplishment, community – Gender consciousness

Women What did women want? 4/5 wanted to keep working after the war Vets had preference: women pushed out of work after the war Lost factory jobs, most kept some kind of employment (necessity) Women employed outside the home 1940: 27% 1950: 32%

Women - Problems However: many attitudes remained unchanged – Discrimination – Pay disparity – Culture (2 nd Shift) – Post-war propaganda pressured women back into the home  delay Women’s Movement Vs. Civil Rights Movement – Only 10% working women in defense industry 55% housewives

African Americans

Af-Am political Demands WWI & WWII was the first step towards civil rights that took place in the 60s Saw what it was like to have equality in Europe

I. Blacks and the Sources of the Civil Rights Movement A. Breaking the Color Barrier Pre-war defense industry: blacks only as janitors A. Philip Randolph (Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters): demand FDR end discrimination – Threatened massive March On Washington  June 1941 EO 8802  – Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC) Black Democratic voters Eleanor’s criticism 700,000 blacks hired in defense industries 200,000 in Federal Government

B. Moving On Up High paying, unionized jobs – # of blacks in unions doubled Lured blacks from rural South to North and West: 2 nd Great Migration – Roughly 1 million (2x as many) and West (CA black pop. 2x)

Effects: Economic advancement Urbanization Control over own lives Didn’t have to be Jim Crow South Right + ability to vote Army moved slowly toward desegregation  “Double V,” Tuskegee Airmen  Rise in expectations

C. Discrediting Racism American attack Nazis + Imperial Japan’s counter- propaganda  US racism broadcasted to the world  pressure reform – Sim. USSR propaganda 1950s+60s Blacks get outside Jim Crow Whites see evils of racism (both of enemy and among selves)