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The Home Front

The Home Front. Why it Matters. The war effort stirred patriotism and promoted economic recovery New opportunities for women and minorities would spur stronger efforts to ensure equal rights after the war. New Economic Opportunities.

tanisha-dickerson
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The Home Front

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  1. The Home Front

  2. Why it Matters • The war effort stirred patriotism and promoted economic recovery • New opportunities for women and minorities would spur stronger efforts to ensure equal rights after the war

  3. New Economic Opportunities • Once industry exhausted the available men, women found jobs for the taking • Government and industry launched a campaign urging women to do their part • In time, women made up 1/3 of the workforce

  4. Women Work for Victory • Many women found jobs that fell out of the traditional realm of women’s work • ¾ of women working in industry were married • Rosie the Riveter-symbol of working women • The experienced gained helped create opportunities for their daughters • Increased the building of day cares

  5. African Americans Demand Fair Employment • Many jobs remained segregated • Double V Campaign- victory against Fascism abroad and victory against discrimination • FDR hoped to put civil rights on the back burner

  6. African Americans Demand Fair Employment • Executive order 8802- assured fair hiring practices in any job funded with government money (Fair Employment Practices Committee) • WWII helped set the Civil Rights agenda

  7. Workers on the Move • Population shifts occurred during war years • Bracero Program- bringing laborers from Mexico to work on American farms • Wartime migration led to racial violence in many cities • Zoot Suit Riots- Mexicans and Mexican Americans dressed in stylish “zoot suits” • Baggy pants and long jackets • Off duty sailor attacked “zooters” • Mexicans were arrested, not the sailors

  8. Challenges to Civil Liberties • Fear spread after Pearl Harbor • New policies towards immigrants and aliens from the Axis nations • Required to register with the government, submit to finger printing, and list organizational affiliations

  9. Aliens Face Restrictions • Germans, Italians, Japanese forced to evacuate the West Coast temporarily in the Winter of 1942 • Once public fears subsided, Germans and Italians were removed from the list • Executive Order 9066- designated certain areas as war zones for which anyone might be removed for any reason • Issei- Japanese Immigrants • Nisei- native born American citizens of Japanese descent • Forced to sell property and allowed only necessary items

  10. Japanese Internment • Interment- temporary imprisonment of members of a specific group • Japanese men, women, and children were transported to camps in isolated locations • Schools were underfunded • Living conditions were minimal • Not until 1988 did the government off an apology and $20,000 to surviving internees • 442nd Regimental Combat Team- all Nisei team became the most decorated military unit in American History

  11. Government Manages the Economy • Increased production of war goods created a scarcity of consumer products • Shortages led to price increases, many fear inflation • Office of Price Administration • Controlled wages, set prices • Rationing- coupon books that limited the amount of certain goods one could buy • Black market- illegal sale of restricted goods

  12. Media Boosts Morale • Office of War Information- worked closely with the media to encourage support for the war • Spotlight common needs, minimize racial and economic divisions, downplay poverty and crime • Films and media highlighted the need to defeat fascism • Encouraged by the government and media, Americans voluntarily contributed to the war effort • “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, and do without”

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