5.3: USA 1941-48: a land united? Flashcards
overview of previous decade
1939: Britain declared war on Germany
Germany allied with Italy and Jaan: Axis powers
American were isolationist until 7th December 1941
By the end of the war, US alone was producing twice as much as its enemies
More than half a million businesses set up during the war
War effort ended unemployment and even farmers started to enjoy better times
-mobilising America
individual action, propaganda, hands-on government, willing industrialists, willing workers, women
mobilising America: individual action
Recognised the urgency of the situation and morale was high, confidence in government
Things were reduced only to what was essential and were simplified
Sportsmen became soldiers and courts became military grounds
Miss America 1942 Jo Carroll Dennis of Texas vowed to remain single for the war
Grew vegetable ‘victory’ gardens
War production Board called for 4 million tons of scrap in 2 months: got 5 million in a week!
Invested in bonds to help government and $129 billion was contributed in total
mobilising America: propaganda
FDR, unlike Hitler and Stalin, convinced Americans they were fighting for good against evil
Used Pearl Harbour to convince public to help
Used radical policies of Nazi Germany to their advantage
Hollywood created movies glorifying America
GI Joe and Sherlock Holmes followed a similar pattern where people could escape
mobilising America: hands-on government
1940-45: federal government spend nearly twice as much as in the preceding 150 years
Taxes like Victory tax were raised on income and savings
No one like it but understood that this was necessary
There were no complaints that it was doing too much, unlike in the 30s
mobilising America: willing industrialists
Jan 1942: FDR set up War Production Board under William Knusden’s lead
Knusden believed co-operation of factory bosses was needed
Didn’t set targets but asked how they thought they could best meet needs
General Motors produced machine guns among other war products
Chrysler corporation made anti-aircraft guns
General Electric increased production of turbines by 300 times in 1942
80% American contracts went to only 100 firms that wanted to help with the war
Henry J,Kaiser was important in the TVA and developed USA’s metal and shipbuilding
Designed and built ‘Liberty’ ships and produced 1 every 42 days in 1945
mobilising America: willing workers
16 million men and women served in armed forces so more workers were needed at home
14 million worked in factories and General Motors took on extra 750,000 during war
Many migrated from south to industrial north
750,000 AAs found work and labour unions agreed not to strike and control wages
Unions demanded better conditions and there were some strikes but were settled quickly
Many women also moved to industrial work
mobilising America: women
12 million working, 300,000 joining armed forces and 7 million joined work forces
WASPs flew every type of war plane, and 1/3 aircraft workers was a woman
½ workers were women in munitions and electronics: more nimble and agile
Majority women in military only served in USA and were restricted to nurses, clerks…
Earned up to 60% less and weren’t always welcomed: viewed as competition
Congress resisted FDR’s plans for equality in armed forces
Factories made no effort to provide child-care
Women who didn’t work planted victory gardens and entertained soldiers
When men took back their jobs, they didn’t give up completely and wanted jobs too
Women became secretaires, clerks and shop assistants, changing work patters
1/6 war wives and 1/3 male soldiers has affairs and there were many divorces
The war disrupted traditional families and money & confidence helped women with new life
Teenage crime and minor offences like vandalism rose youth gangs and teenage sex
-different sides to the story
Howard Zinn, Internment of Japanese Americans, African Americans, Detroit Race Riots 1943
Howard Zinn
Served in air force during war and became critical of the way media falsely showed the war
1980: he wrote A People’s History of the United States
Extremely controversial book and many strongly disagreed with it but was a bestseller
1944: a million workers were on strike
Throughout the war there were 14,000 strikes involving 6,770,000 workers
People were frustrated by freezing wages while business profits skywards
They wouldn’t help America if it didn’t help them
Many thought war was wrong and despite extreme patriotism, refused to show up to drafts
internment of Japanese Americans
1941: 120,000 Japanese Americans form California, Washington State, Arizona and Oregon were interned
Transported to bleak internment camps in remote areas, many losing their property
Congress allowed JAs to enlist in Jan 1943 where 33,000 immediately volunteered
1944: Supreme Court judge overturned it for ‘government racism’
different sides to the story: African Americans
Executive Order 8802: companies supplying goods for war effort had to end discrimination
Executive Order 9981: ordered equal rights and opportunities in armed forces
In workplace: doubled wages to about $1000 a year
Campaigners led by Philip Randolph went on a march and succeeded through EO8802
3000 white workers walked out when 3 black workers were promoted
Race riots in 47 cities during the war
AAs earned 0.5 of what WAs did
In armed forces: by 1944, AA soldiers fought in combat units and were officers
By 1945, many integrated into the army and were supported by General Eisenhower
AAs were referred to as mules and naval forces were extremely racist
AAs were put into black only sections until 1944;
Only 58 sailors rose to officer ranks and were given the most dangerous jobs
Detroit race riots 1943
Population in Detroit increased rapidly, and workers came to help for war
Pressure on housing, jobs, schools, healthcare
Tensions between different migrant groups rose
20th June 1943: riots broke out with AA youth throwing stones at police
6000 troops were required to restore peace and 34 people: 25AA, 9WA died
$2 million worth of property was destroyed
