Wartime Propaganda Posters

Chapter 12
Women and Minorities in WWII

Government propagandists sometimes used fear and racial slurs in

order to convey their message
 Minorities in the Armed Services Women in the War Effort
• African Americans- 1,000,000+ (worked in segregated
units - did not see much front-line action) • Took over many jobs for
• Mexican Americans- 500,000 (saw a lot of front-line servicemen, most notably in heavy
action. 1/10 of the population of Los Angeles, yet industry
accounted for 1/5 of the casualties) • Some joined the military
• Native Americans- 25,000 (by enlisting, they were able • Altered family life
to leave reservations; code talkers)
• Asian Americans - 46,000 (many Asians became spies
for the U.S., translating important information from China
and Japan)

The Women’s Army Corps Women in the Workforce

• British success in using
women for noncombat
duties
• Congress created Women’s
Army Corps in 1942
• Encouraged to work in
defense plants
• Others grew Victory
Gardens and helped with
recycling for the war
effort
• Earned less than male
workers
Factory workers polish Plexiglas nose
cones for A-20 attack bombers

“Rosie the Riveter”
• A symbol of working
women during the war
The “Double V” Campaign
• Created in 1942 by a leading
black newspaper
• “Victory over our enemies at
home and victory over our
enemies on the battlefields
abroad”
African Americans and 

the War
• The irony of fighting a racist regime in Europe while
experiencing racism at home
• Race riots broke out in many cities
• African Americans looked for equality in the
workplace and in the military
The Navajo Code Talkers
• Used to transmit messages in
Pacific
• Based on the Navajo
languages
• Code never broken
 The Bracero Program “Zoot Suit Riots”

• Established due to wartime labor • Los Angeles, 1943

shortage • Conflicts between sailors on leave
• Experienced Mexican laborers and young Mexican Americans
brought in for CA farm work and • Military eventually placed LA off-
railroads limits to servicemen
• Reported human rights abuses

Japanese American Internment “I Am an American”

• FDR issued Executive Order
9066 • Some Nisei tried to
demonstrate patriotism
• Removed more than 110,000
Japanese nationals and • Interned regardless
Japanese Americans from the • Most Japanese accepted
West Coast internment
• About two-thirds
 • Wanted to show their
were citizens loyalty to the U.S.

Despite this Oakland, California,

grocer’s sign, he was interned and
his business sold
 442nd Regimental
Combat Team

18,000 Japanese
Americans

most decorated
regiment in US history

9,486 purple hearts and 21

medals of honor
Anti-Axis Propaganda Korematsu vs.
United States

Ruled internment to be constitutional

What is the threat?

Why does the government say

it is justified?
 What are the general feelings
towards Japanese Americans?

Why do Americans want to get

rid of Japanese Americans?

Pro-Allies Propaganda