History 10INT

Dr. Strong

Please read 796-801 and answer the following questions:

1. What groups made economic gains in the 40s and why?

There were a few groups that made significant economic gains in the 40s. These groups consisted of
workers, but also female workers. To start off as the defense industries started to grow, unemployment fell
to a low of 1.2% in 1944. This was a drastic change and improvement while comparing to the great
depression dates. To add on the price and wage controls average weekly pay gross 10% during this war.
Due to the great weather, this was perfect for growing crops. Crop production had increased by 50% and
farm income had tripled. Due to this many farmers were able to pay off there more just before the end of
the world war. Moving onto women, over 6 million women entered the workforce , Due to this they
augmented the percentage of women in the total workforce to about 35%. This was a huge improvement.
A third of those jobs were found in defense plans, this allowed women to proceed with a more
challenging work environment and also better paid jobs then they’re usually traditionally associated jobs
including waitressing clerking and domestic services. Due to the fact that a majority of the men were all at
war, the woman decided to prove to society that they are able to do a lot of things that only men had done
before. To conclude these are the groups that meet economic gains in the 40s.

2. How did WWII cause changes in the American landscape?

World War II caused many changes in the American landscape. To start off, the war had triggered one of
the largest mass migrations in American history. Many families who were bound to one area had decided
to seek work elsewhere. More than 1 million newcomers had installed themselves into California between
1941 and 1944 due to this towns that included defense industries noticed a triple in their populations.
Although A noticeable change is that African-Americans left the south for cities in the north in record
numbers. According to the map, more than 1 million African-Americans had immigrated throughout the
United States including the West Coast, the mountain in plain states, the midwest, the middle Atlantic,
and New England. To conclude this is how World War II causes change in the American landscaping.

3. What kind of social changes took place during the war?

It’s significant amount of social changes took place during the war. To start off, families needed to adjust
to the changes that had been imposed by the war as best as they could. Millions of fathers were now in the
arm forces, mothers were significantly struggling to guide their children alone. A large percentage of
children were used to being left alone with either the neighbors relatives or in childcare centers. They
were no longer used to having parents within their home, more and more mothers went to work.
Teenagers are also left at home with no supervision, due to this they ended up drifting in juvenile
delinquency. Although, when the fathers would return from home there was often a painful period of
readjustments as the family members had to re-introduce themselves to one another and adapt to the
changes. Although the war did create a positive affect, this helped create new families. According to
sources, long time sweethearts or couples who did not know each other at all rushed to get married before
the soldier or sailor was shipped overseas. For example, in towns like Seattle the number of marriage
licenses issued one up by as much as 300% in the Early years of the war. Finally, in 1944 in order to help
the transition. To return back to civilian life, the Congress decided to pass the servicemen readjustment
act, this is also referred to as the G.I. Bill of rights. This bill provided both training and education for
veterans, this was paid by the federal government. Over half the returning soldiers, 7.8 million veterans,
decided to attend college and technical schools under this bill. This bill would also provide federal loan
guarantees to veterans who are buying homes, farms, or starting new businesses. To conclude these are
the kind of social changes that took place during the war.

4. How did African Americans experience progress and setbacks during the war?
African Americans experienced both progress and setback in terms of discrimination during this war.
What prejudices and policies were still persisting within society in both the military and at home.
African-Americans made a form of progress on the homefront. During the war, thousands of
African-Americans had decided to migrate from the south. The majority of them moved to places
including the Midwest. They were able to find better jobs. Between 1940 and 1944, there was a
significant change in the number of African-Americans working in skilled or semi skilled jobs. It
augmented from 16 to 30%. Although this did not stop the racism towards African-Americans. It seemed
as wherever they moved, discrimination was still embedded within society. In 1942, the civil rights leader
James Farmer had decided to fund and create an inter-racial organization that was called the Congress of
racial equality in order to confront urban segregation that was still present in the north. Although that
same here, the CORE had staged its first sit in a segregated Chicago restaurant. Although as the
African-Americans had migrated into overcrowded cities, tensions began to rise between races. In 1943 a
huge wave of racial violence had been swept across The whole country. In Detroit, a fight started between
blacks and whites at the beach on the Detroit River had developed into a riot when white sailors stationed
nearby decided to join the fight. This fighting had rage for three days, it was fueled by all the false rumors
being spread that a white group of men had murdered a black woman and her child and that black rioters
had killed 17 whites. Due to this, due to the race wars, President Roosevelt felt obliged to send federal
troops in order to restore peace. In the end, nine whites and 25 blacks laid dead. This violence during the
year of 1943, had shown citizens of America how significant the racial tensions had grown within the
United States. By 1945, over 400 committees had been established by American communities in order to
improve the relations between each race. The progress was slow, although African-Americans were
determined to not give up and continue fighting for what’s right. To conclude this is how
African-Americans experience both progress and setbacks during the war.

5. How did Mexican Americans experience prejudice during the war?

Mexican Americans experienced a series of prejudices within the United States during the war. To start
off in the violent summer of 1943, los Angeles became the site of anti-Mexican zoot suit rights. The term
zoot suit was a style of dress that was adopted by Mexican American use which was a symbol of the
rebellion against typical tradition. This all consisted of wearing a long jacket with pleated pants and broad
brimmed hats. These riots commenced when 11 sailors within Los Angeles had reported that they had
been attacked by zoot suits wearing Mexican Americans. This claim had triggered violence of all the
thousands of servicemen and civilians. Moms had decided to pour into Mexican neighborhoods, grabbing
zoot suits or youth‘s. The attackers would soon rip off the victims clothes and beat them senseless. These
riots lasted approximately a week, and resulted in the beating of hundreds of Mexican American youth‘s
and many other minorities. Although despite the unhappy experiences with racism, the Mexican
Americans believed that their sacrifices, their beatings during this war time would lead their future
generation for a better future. To conclude this is how Mexican Americans experience prejudices during
the war.

6. Why did the US intern Japanese Americans?

The US had decided to intern Japanese Americans for a series of reasons. To start off, false rumors had
been circulating revolving around the fact Japanese immigrants and their descendants were all spies for
Japan and their government. To add on, White AMericans believed that the Japanese were also poisoning
crops, and also mining the coastal harbors. These rumors caused fear and worry to be spread throughout
the whole of the United States. The War Department had demanded that all Japanese Americans be
removed from specific locations, and relocated to internment camps. Although this did not go through, the
military governor of the State of Hawaii had revolted against this ridiculous command. Although, his
risitence did not hold up, it would soon come to an end. The government forced their hand allowing all
Japanese Americans to be placed within internment camps. The United States would cover up their racism
and discrimination by justifiing this act as “national security” despite the fact that these individuals were
innocent. To conclude, this is why this US intern Japanese Americans.

7. What was the experience of Japanese Americans who were interned?

The experience of Japanese Americans who were interned was a horrible and scary experience, leaving
many families separated and traumatized. Innocent civilians were placed in prison camps due to their
race. These prison camps were being praised, while innocent civilians were being held by the
government.

8. After the war, what kind of settlement was reached by the US with respect to Japanese Americans?
After the war, settlements were reached by the US with respect to Japanese Americans by insulting a
$20,000 settlement to all Japanese Americans who were forced within the internment camps. THis bill
was signed and passed by Ronald Ragan in an attempt to store a form of justice and peace for these
individuals.