African Americans in World War II
During the war years, more than one million African Americans worked in the defense industry. Most of the jobs were along the West Coast and up North. More than one million African Americans migrated from the South. Many traveled to California, Detroit, and Chicago. This caused racial tensions. In 1943 there was a riot in Detroit. During the riot 34 people were killed.
In some workplaces African Americans had equal rights. A. Phillip Randolph helped achieved these rights in 1941. He threatened to lead an African American protest march for better jobs. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802. It outlawed job discrimination in defense industries working for the federal industry.
During the war years, more than one million African Americans worked in the defense industry. Most of the jobs were along the West Coast and up North. More than one million African Americans migrated from the South. Many traveled to California, Detroit, and Chicago. This caused racial tensions. In 1943 there was a riot in Detroit. During the riot 34 people were killed.
In some workplaces African Americans had equal rights. A. Phillip Randolph helped achieved these rights in 1941. He threatened to lead an African American protest march for better jobs. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802. It outlawed job discrimination in defense industries working for the federal industry.
The Bracero Program
The Bracero program was in law from 1942 until 1964. It allowed people from Mexico to temporarily take part in agricultural work in the United States. In the 22 year time period of the law, four and a half million people were allowed to work in the Unites States on a contract, legally. This helped desperate Mexico natives to earn money at the time, although at extremely low wages. Some of these people returned several times to the U.S. on other contracts. This program effected the business of farming in America significantly.
With this, came concern. There were many groups concerned for the exploitation of Bracero workers which prompted many to try to repeal the program. Also, participation in The Bracero Program was limited to agriculture and did not support urban dwelling.
The Bracero program was in law from 1942 until 1964. It allowed people from Mexico to temporarily take part in agricultural work in the United States. In the 22 year time period of the law, four and a half million people were allowed to work in the Unites States on a contract, legally. This helped desperate Mexico natives to earn money at the time, although at extremely low wages. Some of these people returned several times to the U.S. on other contracts. This program effected the business of farming in America significantly.
With this, came concern. There were many groups concerned for the exploitation of Bracero workers which prompted many to try to repeal the program. Also, participation in The Bracero Program was limited to agriculture and did not support urban dwelling.
Japanese Internment
After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Americans began to mistrust Japanese citizens. Some people mistrusted not only Japanese citizens, but all Asians in generalalso. For a while, it was only newspapers and media that played into this, but in early 1942, President Roosevelt banned the entrance of Asian immigrants into the U.S. He was not done yet. In February 1942, he signed the bill that forced Japanese men, women, and children into internment camps. These were not like concentration camps. The people were not being punished, just contained.
Upon leaving, Japanese people had to sell everything they owned. All Japanese-Americans in California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas were placed in camps. In the camps, people had to wait in long lines to eat, use the bathroom, and other things. Children went to school, and parents were allowed the option to work for five dollars a day. Even after the great injustice brought to them by the American government, some interns went into the U.S. military. Recreation activates were available, but internment camps were anything but pleasant. They got too hot or too cold, and the food was disgusting. On December 17, 1944, Roosevelt again signed the bill that allowed for the releasing of the interns.
After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Americans began to mistrust Japanese citizens. Some people mistrusted not only Japanese citizens, but all Asians in generalalso. For a while, it was only newspapers and media that played into this, but in early 1942, President Roosevelt banned the entrance of Asian immigrants into the U.S. He was not done yet. In February 1942, he signed the bill that forced Japanese men, women, and children into internment camps. These were not like concentration camps. The people were not being punished, just contained.
Upon leaving, Japanese people had to sell everything they owned. All Japanese-Americans in California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas were placed in camps. In the camps, people had to wait in long lines to eat, use the bathroom, and other things. Children went to school, and parents were allowed the option to work for five dollars a day. Even after the great injustice brought to them by the American government, some interns went into the U.S. military. Recreation activates were available, but internment camps were anything but pleasant. They got too hot or too cold, and the food was disgusting. On December 17, 1944, Roosevelt again signed the bill that allowed for the releasing of the interns.
Native Americans
When Christopher Columbus came to America, there were about one million Native Americans. There were only 250,000 Native Americans in the year 1880 and the population grew to 350,000 by the year 1940. During the time of World War II, more than 44,000 Native Americans saw military service and many of them received the Purple Heart, Air Medals, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguished Service Crosses, and three Medal of Honors. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, a warrior spirit was awakened. The Native Americans were eager to fight and waited in line for hours to sign their draft cards.
Every able bodied man went off to fight while women took over traditional men's jobs. Many who could not go to war stayed in America and helped in factories making needed war supplies. The most important role of the Native Americans in WWII was the Navajo Code talks. The enemy was figuring out the messages that were sent over radios so the Indians used their native language to talk in code. The enemy never figured it out!
When Christopher Columbus came to America, there were about one million Native Americans. There were only 250,000 Native Americans in the year 1880 and the population grew to 350,000 by the year 1940. During the time of World War II, more than 44,000 Native Americans saw military service and many of them received the Purple Heart, Air Medals, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguished Service Crosses, and three Medal of Honors. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, a warrior spirit was awakened. The Native Americans were eager to fight and waited in line for hours to sign their draft cards.
Every able bodied man went off to fight while women took over traditional men's jobs. Many who could not go to war stayed in America and helped in factories making needed war supplies. The most important role of the Native Americans in WWII was the Navajo Code talks. The enemy was figuring out the messages that were sent over radios so the Indians used their native language to talk in code. The enemy never figured it out!
Immigration Policy
The day after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt stopped Italian, German, and Japanese immigrants from entering the U.S. freely. He made them register, shortened their moving authority, and took away their items that could be used for sabotage, such as shortwave radios and cameras. There were about 600,000 Italian alien immigrants and about 246,000 German alien immigrants in the United States in 1940. Approximately 1,600 Italian citizens were imprisoned, and about 10,000 Italian-Americans were forced to move into inland homes. During the war, 10,905 Germans and German-Americans as well as many Bulgarians, Czechs, Hungarians and Romanians were put into force-labor camps in Germany.
Nazi Germany set up concentration camps for Jews. At these camps, they collected Jews and killed them in gas chambers. Just in Aucshwitz, they killed 1.3 million Jews and about 300,000 Russian prisoners, gypsies, and Polish Catholics. In 1942, Roosevelt heard about the killing of the Jews, and did his best to help the Jews. By 1952, 137,450 Jewish refugees had settled in the United States. The amended 1948 law was a turning point in American immigration policy and established a precedent for later refugee crisis.
The day after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt stopped Italian, German, and Japanese immigrants from entering the U.S. freely. He made them register, shortened their moving authority, and took away their items that could be used for sabotage, such as shortwave radios and cameras. There were about 600,000 Italian alien immigrants and about 246,000 German alien immigrants in the United States in 1940. Approximately 1,600 Italian citizens were imprisoned, and about 10,000 Italian-Americans were forced to move into inland homes. During the war, 10,905 Germans and German-Americans as well as many Bulgarians, Czechs, Hungarians and Romanians were put into force-labor camps in Germany.
Nazi Germany set up concentration camps for Jews. At these camps, they collected Jews and killed them in gas chambers. Just in Aucshwitz, they killed 1.3 million Jews and about 300,000 Russian prisoners, gypsies, and Polish Catholics. In 1942, Roosevelt heard about the killing of the Jews, and did his best to help the Jews. By 1952, 137,450 Jewish refugees had settled in the United States. The amended 1948 law was a turning point in American immigration policy and established a precedent for later refugee crisis.
Women
During World War II, more than thirty percent of the U.S male population was drafted, or volunteered, into the military. This left much work for the females to do. Some went into the military to volunteer as nurses or secretaries, but most stayed home with their children. Women entered the work force for two reasons: one, to provide for their families in place of the husbands, and two, to help the soldiers in the war. Many women worked in factories that made items for the Allied soldiers. Women wanted to do all they could for the war cause from where they were.
“Rosie the Riveter” was a popular character during this time. Rosie was a real person, but most of the information we have about her is fiction made by the government to encourage women to enter the work force. She was a female factory worker making war vehicles. Even though women worked just as hard as males,( and without them, less men would be able to work in the military because they would be at home working in factories), they were paid less than fifty percent what males of the same job were paid.
During World War II, more than thirty percent of the U.S male population was drafted, or volunteered, into the military. This left much work for the females to do. Some went into the military to volunteer as nurses or secretaries, but most stayed home with their children. Women entered the work force for two reasons: one, to provide for their families in place of the husbands, and two, to help the soldiers in the war. Many women worked in factories that made items for the Allied soldiers. Women wanted to do all they could for the war cause from where they were.
“Rosie the Riveter” was a popular character during this time. Rosie was a real person, but most of the information we have about her is fiction made by the government to encourage women to enter the work force. She was a female factory worker making war vehicles. Even though women worked just as hard as males,( and without them, less men would be able to work in the military because they would be at home working in factories), they were paid less than fifty percent what males of the same job were paid.