(3b) The Impact of the New Deal on Ethnic Minorities Flashcards
1
Q
Impact on Black Americans:
Job and Relief Opportunities
A
- Millions of black americans did benefit.
- 1936-1940: WPA, led by Harry Hopkins, found work for 350,000 black Americans every year (there were 12 million blacks in America in total, not massive from WPA).
- Education programmes: >5,000 black teachers employed.
- Mary McLeod Bethune (NYA): 500,000 young black americans received skills training.
- If their jobs included, they benefited from Social Security Act and Wagner Act.
2
Q
Impact on Black Americans:
Roles in Federal Government
A
- Arthur Mitchell = First black congressman - Dem Representative in Illinois, 1935.
- Support from many prominent people in FDR’s government (Eleanor).
- Mary McLeod Bethune, National Youth Administration. - - The “Black cabinet”, to advise on race issues - but none on FDR’s official cabinet.
- Civil service tripled number of black American employees to 150,00 by 1941
- 1941: Executive Order 8802 outlawed discrimination in defence industry and set up the Fair Employment and Practices Committee (FEPC).
3
Q
Impact on Black Americans:
Changes in voting behaviour
A
- Shifted from Republican to Democrat (Abe Lincoln was a Rep.)
- Shift was mainly northern (only 5% could vote in the south.)
- 1940: All 15 black-American wards in 9 major cities voted for FDR. Roosevelt got 85% of the vote in Harlem.
4
Q
Impact on Black Americans:
Limitations
A
- Many still couldn’t vote in the south - FDR relied on racist southern Democrats.
- AAA - Poor black farmers and sharecroppers received no help.
- NRA codes allowed whites to be paid more.
- CCC run by a racist and was segregated - only 200k blacks joined (1933-1942).
- FDR didn’t support the anti-lynching bills (1934 + 1937) thus they both failed.
- FDR did little to end segregation - blacks remained 2nd class citizens.
5
Q
Impact of New Deal on Native Americans
A
- Benefitted.
- 1934 Indian Reorganisation Act: Assimilation abandoned, native culture celebrated + encouraged to modernise (given control of land sales on reservations.)
- Still widespread discrimination in society.
- Incredibly impoverished that Alphabet agencies didn’t help much.
- 1939 Average Income: Native = $500
National Average = $1,300
6
Q
Impact of New Deal on Hispanic Americans
A
- Migrant workers from Mexico working in deep south (fruit picking and harvesting crops).
- 2 million Mexicans deported to create jobs for white Americans.
- Wage fall: 1928 = 35 cents, 1933 = 14 cents (an hour).
- Migrant workers excluded from ND legislation.
- Hispanic Americans faced the worst out of all ethnic minorities.
7
Q
The contributions of ethnic minorities to the war effort:
Black Americans in the Armed Forces
A
- 1941: <4,000 in armed forces and 12 officers.
1945: 1.2 million black Americans serving. - 1940 Selective Service Training Act: Shouldn’t face discrimination when applying.
- Mainly in non-combat roles: ferrying supplies, cooks, + building installations.
- Segregated - integrated in 1948.
- Man shortage meant that BA were allowed in combat roles (17,000 at D-Day), and some battalions integrated.
8
Q
The contributions of ethnic minorities to the war effort:
Home Front
A
- > 1 million BA moved from the South to the North.
- Discrimination in housing and jobs.
- Black protest march on Washington scheduled in 1941: FDR spoke to leaders and got it called off.
- 25 June 1941: Executive Order 8805: Banned discrimination in defence plants (set up FEPC to ensure this.)
- Employment of BA in defence plants increased by 4%.
9
Q
The contributions of ethnic minorities to the war effort:
Double V campaign
A
1942:
- Encouraged black Americans in the armed services and the Home Front to fight for victory against the Axis powers.
- And for victory against prejudice and discrimination at home.
10
Q
The contributions of ethnic minorities to the war effort:
Native Americans
A
- 25,000 fought.
- Mainly fought against Japan in the Pacific.
- Integrated with white soldiers.
- 420 Navajo Indians were code talkers - language too complex for Japanese to crack!
11
Q
The contributions of ethnic minorities to the war effort:
Hispanic Americans
A
- 500,000 joined armed forces + 17,000 working in LA shipyards.
- Bracero Programme, 1942: Recruit Mexicans to work in agriculture, mines, munitions and the railroads - paid the least, faced discrimination, + few opportunities.
- “Zoot suiter” racial attacks.
- June 1943, LA shipyards: White workers attacked Hispanics - authorities turned blind eye.
12
Q
Japanese Americans
A
- Suffered most during WW2.
- After Pearl Harbour, Japanese American population on West Coast forced to leave their homes and relocate to desert internment camps.
- 400,000 were relocated. Combined estimated loss of $400 million for which most Japanese Americans were not compensated for - no apology until the 1980s.
