WWII, Cold War, Korean War

1. WWII, Cold War, Korean War American History II - Unit 5 Ms. Brown

2. Review • Why was the Battle of Midway considered a turning point for the Allies in the Pacific? • Once capturing Midway, the Allied forces began “island” hopping as they captured islands progressing toward Japan • Why was winning the Battle of Okinawa critical for the Allies? • Okinawa was the last island before the consideration of an attack on Japan (last stronghold) • What was Truman’s attitude considering using the atomic bomb against Japan? • No hesitation – considered it a war weapon that’s use was justified • What was decided at the Yalta Conference in 1945? • Germany into 4 military zones // free elections in Poland and other Soviet occupied nations // Stalin joined Allies in Pacific and the UN • What was the impact of the Nuremberg Trials in 1945? • People are responsible for their actions during war – “following orders” is not an excuse. • Model for the UDHR and the ICC

3. 5.6 – WWII American Homefront

4. Industry Booms • The WWII economy stopped the Great Depression in its tracks  increased economic opportunities for many Americans • Unemployment as low as 1.2% in 1944 • Wages rose 10% during the war • Long hours, overtime, night shifts = more money and more savings (less time to spend)  increased sale of war bonds

5. Farmers Prosper • Good weather • Improved farming machinery and fertilizers • Guaranteed price stability allowed for loan repayment or elimination of debt

6. Women Workers • 6M women in the workforce in WWII • Defense jobs paid better than traditional women’s jobs • “The war really created opportunities for women. It was the first time we got a chance to show that we could do a lot of things that only men had done before.” – Winona Espinosa, mother, riveter, bus driver

7. Families • Marriage boom (marry before deployment) • Women had new roles to fill, along with traditional roles • Child rearing, housekeeping, working, budgeting • Rise of childcare facilities • Teenage delinquency due to lack of supervision • When fathers/husbands returned, a period of painful readjustment.

8. GI Bill • 1944 – GI Bill of Rights • Formal name: Servicemen’s Readjustment Act • Help readjust GIs at home • Education and training for veterans • Federal loans to veterans to buy homes or farms

9. Civil Rights Protests • During WWII - mass migration of African Americans to the North, Midwest, and West  new job opportunities • Met with resistance (despite service) • 1942 – Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) founded by James Farmer to confront racial segregation  first sit-in in Chicago restaurant

10. Detroit Race Riot • Detroit Race Riot • 3 days in June 1943 • Fueled by rumors that… • whites had murdered a black woman and her child • blacks had killed 17 whites • Mayor and Governor praised police for killing black rioters • 9 whites, 25 blacks dead • FDR sent federal troops to calm riot  stayed for 6 months

11. LA Zoot Suit Riot • Large Mexican American population in Los Angeles • wore “zoot suits” - long jackets, pleated pants, broad brimmed hats to symbolize rebelling against tradition • Summer 1943 – 11 sailors claimed Mexican American zoot-suiter attacked them • Almost a week of mob attacks on Mexican Americans, stripping them of clothes and beating them senseless

12. Internment of Japanese Americans • Large Japanese American population on the west coast • After Pearl Harbor, Americans feared another Japanese attack  fear of spies and espionage • Starting in 1942 – wave of prejudiced gov’t actions towards Japanese Americans • War Department ordered Hawaii to evacuate all Japanese Americans (37% of the population  General Emmons (military Governor of Hawaii) refused because it would have hurt economy • General Emmons eventually was forced to confine 1,444 Japanese Americans in Hawaii (1%)

13. Internment of Japanese Americans • Panic more severe on the west coast mainland  US military suggested internment to protect “national security” • Feb. 19, 1942 – FDR issued Executive Order 9066 • involuntary internment of Japanese Americans in California and parts of Oregon, Washington, and Arizona • Internment – confinement

14. Internment of Japanese Americans • 110,000 Japanese Americans sent to “relocation camps” (prison camps)

15. Internment of Japanese Americans • 2/3 Nisei (2nd generation Japanese Americans)  American citizens! • Remember… during wartime, personal/individual freedoms and rights are infringed upon • No specific charges filed and no espionage evidence found  violates habeas corpus (cannot be held without charges or evidence)

16. Korematsu vs. US (1944) • Background • Fred Korematsu – Japanese American who refused to leave his home in California in accordance with Exec. Order 9066 • Arrested and convicted of violating a military order • ACLU expressed interest in appealing Korematsu’s conviction to test the constitutionality of the Exec. Order • Arguments • Korematsu – Exec. Order 9066 violated the 5th Amendment (due process clause) and the 14th Amendment (equal protection regardless of race), went beyond the military powers of the POTUS • US gov’t – internment was necessary to the war effort and national security, the Constitution protects habeas corpus to an extent in wartime

17. Korematsu v. US (1944) • Decision – 6-3 in favor of US gov’t • Established the “strict scrutiny” test for laws – any law or order that discriminates on the basis of race or ethnicity is constitutional only if its serves an extremely important and compelling purpose for the gov’t • In this case, the protection of national security was paramount and justified the internment of a percentage of the population. • FDR did not overstep his military powers as Commander in Chief • Dissent • Justice Murphy – the exclusion of Japanese “falls into the ugly abyss of racism” and resembles “the abhorrent and despicable treatment of minority groups the dictatorial tyrannies which this nation is now pledged to destroy.”

18. Internment of Japanese Americans • Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) pushed for compensation for those interned • 1965 – gov’t paid $38M (less than 1/10 actual losses) • 1988 – Reagan signed bill for $20,000 to each remaining internment victim • 1990 – “We can never fully right the wrongs of the past. But we can take a clear stand for justice and recognize that serious injustices were done to Japanese Americans during World War II.” – Bush Sr. in letter to victims with checks

19. SYSK: What was the deal with American Japanese internment camps? 1. What event was the catalyst for suspicion directed towards Japanese Americans in 1941? 2. What was Executive Order 9066? 3. Why were Japanese Americans living mainly on the west coast targeted? 4. Describe the 1942 propaganda film. 5. Describe the internment camps. Appearance, facilities, etc. 6. How was the Japanese culture affected while in internment camps? 7. What types of questions did the release questionnaire ask? 8. Why would this questionnaire offend Japanese Americans? What did some Japanese Americans do with their citizenship? 9. What year were the internment camps ended? In what kind of financial status did many Japanese Americans leave the camps? 10. How does habeas corpus come into play concerning the internment? Propaganda Film

20. WWII Song – Listen and read along with the lyrics… Hitler invades territories that once were GermanEngland and France warn him “you have to stop”HIs invasion of Poland starts a warAnd now he’s learningThat Blitzkrieg though Belgium, through FranceMight knock the Allies out Who will be the greatest generationIf he builds an armyUnder the cover of depressionAnd ignores Versailles?Appeasement leads us to diplomacyNot action, while weAre isolationist but can’t denyOur time to arrive(With isolation gone, we’re here to survive)

21. Imperial Japan invades Sou-Southeast AsiaThe US responds with embargoWell, Japan needs the resourcesOur military, an obstacleThey attack Pearl HarborWe say goodbye isolation, hello war - hello war! Who will be the greatest generationIf he builds an armyUnder the cover of depressionAnd ignores Versailles?Appeasement leads us to diplomacyNot action, while weAre isolationist but can’t denyOur time to arrive(With isolation gone, we’re here to survive)

22. We’re island hopping in Pacific TheatresTo move us closer to that Japanese boarderBut a second European front is in orderTo stop - Axis expansion starting in Africa nowWe’re pushing northAllies are holding their groundD-Day amasses - the troops to surround Germany is overextended, underfundedTheir last offensive failsYea, Battle of the BulgeNow that Germany is done we have the Manhattan ProjectJapan gets 2 atomic bombsThen World War II is won