Changes in the US during WWII

1. Essential Learning Goal: • The Second World War caused dramatic changes for the citizens of the US and to the US’ position as a world power. • Learning Targets: • I can identify the geographic location of Japanese-American relocation and internment camps. • I can recognize the contributions of women to the war effort and their involvement in economic life. • I can explain the economic gains for Americans during the war and the importance of the GI Bill. • I can identify migration patterns in the US during WWII.

2. Opening Assignment • What impact will the Second World War have on women’s roles in America? • How is this a change for women in American life?

3. Rosie the Riveter

4. SECTION 4: THE HOME FRONT • The war provided a lift to the U.S. economy • Jobs were abundant and despite rationing and shortages, people had money to spend • By the end of the war, America was the world’s dominant economic and military power

5. ECONOMIC GAINS • Unemployment fell to only 1.2% by 1944 and wages rose 35% • Farmers too benefited as production doubled and income tripled

6. WOMEN MAKE GAINS • Women enjoyed economic gains during the war, although many lost their jobs after the war • Over 6 million women entered the work force for the first time • Over 1/3 were in the defense industry

7. POPULATION SHIFTS • The war triggered the greatest mass migration in American history • More than a million newcomers poured into California between 1941-1944 • African Americans again shifted from south to north

8. GI BILL HELPS RETURNING VETS • To help returning servicemen ease back into civilian life, Congress passed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill of Rights) • The act provided education for 7.8 million vets

9. INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS • When the war began, 120,000 Japanese Americans lived in the U.S. – mostly on the West Coast • After Pearl Harbor, many people were suspicious of possible spy activity by Japanese Americans • In 1942, FDR ordered Japanese Americans into 10 relocation centers Japanese Americans felt the sting of discrimination during WWII

10. Location of the 10 Internment camps

11. Jerome camp in Arkansas

12. Korematsu vs. US • US Supreme Court case heard in the 1940’s to decide if Japanese-American relocation was legal. • Supreme Court decides that this is acceptable during a time of war and that Internment does not violate these American’s rights.

13. U.S. PAYS REPARATIONS TO JAPANESE • In the late 1980s, President Reagan signed into law a bill that provided $20,000 to every Japanese American sent to a relocation camp • The checks were sent out in 1990 along with a note from President Bush saying, “We can never fully right the wrongs of the past . . . we now recognize that serious wrongs were done to Japanese Americans during WWII.” Today the U.S. is home to more than 1,000,000 Japanese-Americans

14. Daily Review • From where were Japanese-Americans removed during WWII? Where were they sent to live? • What contributions did women make to the war effort? Did this continue after the war? • What effect did the War have on unemployment and wages during the war? How did the GI Bill attempt to help American veterans? • How did migration patterns in the US during WWII continue the trend we witnessed during WWI? What state experienced extreme growth during the War?

15. Homework • Complete the Daily Review #1-4 on the previous slide. • Chapter 17 Section 4 • Read Pages 590 – 595 • Main Idea Questions A – D • SkillBuilder Page 591 #1 – 2 • SkillBuilder Page 594 #1 – 2 • Define Terms & Names into notes.