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World at War. 24.2 The Home Front. Internment of Japanese Americans. War inflamed racism against Japanese. Feb. 1942: FDR ordered army to relocate 110,000 Japanese Americans to concentration camps. Eventually the Govt. allowed Japanese Americans to fight. 442 nd Combat Group
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WorldatWar 24.2 The Home Front
Internment of Japanese Americans • War inflamed racism against Japanese. • Feb. 1942: FDR ordered army to relocate 110,000 Japanese Americans to concentration camps.
Eventually the Govt. allowed Japanese Americans to fight. • 442nd Combat Group • 1988: US Govt. compensated families & soldiers
Building the Armed Forces • 15 million men & women served • Most servicemen were drafted • Women did everything short of front-line combat!
Mobilizing the Economy • US became “arsenal of democracy” • Production Boomed = Depression Ended • Govt. increased its control on industry • Big-business prospered • Wages were frozen & strikes made illegal • War Productions Board: managed conversion to war-production
Paying for the War • Govt. raised income taxes • 1st time most Americans had to pay • $135 billion in WAR BONDS sold! • Rationing & Coastal Blackouts = most Americans were able to save $$$
Women at Work • Over 5 million at work during war. • Govt. promoted it as long as men were at war. • Were paid less, and were expected to quit when war ended
African Americans • Had to fight racism at home & abroad • A. Philip Randolph threatened a march on Washington to demand equal access & pay in defense jobs • FDR responded by creating the Fair Employment Practices Committee
761st Tank Battalion • FEPC opened some jobs to blacks but lacked enforcement. • 1 million blacks fought bravely in segregated units
Blacks, Women, and Other Groups • Continued to face discrimination • But because of their sacrifice & efforts AND • Because it was a war to save democracy & end racism… THESE GROUPS WOULD CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR EQUALITY
Mobility & Race Riots • Millions of Americans moved into cities for defense jobs. • Race Riots broke out in major cities • 250 riots during summer of 1943