The Home Front Chapter 17 Section 4

Opportunity and Adjustment After the war, the U.S. emerged as the world’s dominant economic and military power. Many women enjoyed having a job during WWII, however many of them lost it after the war In addition to having a job, during WWII many women showed their power and their equality to men by having certain jobs that were traditionally held by men (e.g. journalism)

Between the years of 1940-1950, there was a dramatic population shift Many families that once lived in the south now were moving out to the West Coast, Mountains, Midwest, Middle Atlantic, and New England area……but why?

Social Adjustments During the time of war, there were many single mothers. After the war many people rushed to get married and the baby boom began. Those babies are currently in their 60’s. In 1944, Congress passed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (a.k.a G.I. Bill of Rights) This bill provided education and training for war veterans (the government paid for colleges and technical schools) About 7.8 million veterans attended education and training under this bill

Discrimination and Reaction Although new doors were opening for everyone, racism and prejudice continued during this time era African Americans were the group that faced prejudice the most As a result of that, James Farmer created a interracial org. named the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) to combat such discriminations happening against the minorities

Tension in Los Angeles Many Mexican Americans also experienced prejudice during and after WWII. In the summer of 1943, The Zoot-Suit Riots erupted. The riot occurred when 11 sailors claimed that they were attacked by zoot-suit wearing Mexican Americans. Many Mexican-Americans believed that their sacrifices during the war would lead them to a better future.

Internment of Japanese Americans After the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, many Americans believed the rumors that Japanese Americans would do harmful things to the U.S. In 1942, the War Department called a total evacuation of all Japanese Americans. They were then put into Japanese internment camps. FDR believed it was a step necessary for national security. (sound familiar?)

Many Japanese felt that this was a direct violation of their rights. These camps were located in many parts of the US: California (Tule Lake, Manzanar), Idaho (Minidoka), Utah (Topaz), Arizona (Poston, Gila River), Colorado (Granada), Wyoming (Heart Mountain), and Arkansas (Rohwer and Jerome) – (a.k.a. relocation centers) Many Japanese felt that this was a direct violation of their rights. Famous court case: Korematsu v. U.S. (argued on the idea that no person shall….be deprived life, liberty, or property, without due process of law – 5th Amendment) however it was okay because of “military necessity.” This was definitely a direct violation of that and after the war a group called the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) helpeed to get compensation and lost property.

After a long battle, in 1988 Ronald Reagan signed a bill that promised $20,000 to every Japanese American that was sent to a relocation camp In 1990, when the checks were sent out, President George Bush Sr. wrote a letter of apology about the situation.