America: WW2 And Civil Rights Flashcards
How could African Americans serve in WW2?
Black soldiers in segregated units
Marines and Army air corps didnt accept black Americans until later in the war
The navy only accepted them as kitchen workers
Many black men were used in non-combat roles, some saw the frontline
Give some examples of African Americans who saw the frontline in ww2
Tuskegee airmen- provided fighter escorts to bombers over germany, they never lost a single plane they protected
761st tank battalion fought in Europe
How did race relationships change in the war?
There was still some hostility but a lot formed friendships
In many cases however, the colour line reappeared at home
How did fighting in the war change the perspectives of some soldiers regarding civil rights?
It enabled the and helped them to realise deep segregation in America wasn’t inevitable
Treatment of black soldiers after the war
When black soldiers returned home, whites were prepared to ‘ put them back in there place’
Police were beating black soldiers
How did war change Jim Crow?
Changed attitudes towards it
Black veterans returned with a militant attitude ready to fight, they realised they could be treated like humans like they had in Europe
Many leaders of black voter registration drives in 1946 were black veterans
Who launched the double V campaign and when was it launched?
The Pittsburg courier- the most widely read black newspaper
Two months to the day after the American entered the war following the attack on pearl harbour
What was the Double V campaign ?
It was a campaign urging black people to give their all to the war effort, they were also calling on the governement to make equal rights real for all
It was dubbed the double Vcampaign: victory abroad against the Nazis, and at home against racial segregation
Features of the double V campaign
It ran weekly until 1943
It promoted patriotism-included an American flag with every subscription
Encouraged readers to buy war bonds to fund the war
Double V clubs spread round the country
There was a weekly photo of a double V girl
Double V hairstyele, gardens, basketball games
Other newspapers joined the campaign
Who was A. Philip Randolph?
He organised a march on Washington to protest discrimination in the defence industry
Eleanor Roosevelt’s met with him to try and call it off, and he refused
He then did the same with FDR, unless FDR signed an executive order banning discrimination
What did FDR do in espouse to A Philip.randolphs planned march on Washington?
He issued executive order 8802 on the 25th June 1941
This created the the FEPC
What was the FEPC?
The fair employment practices committee
It enforced the rule that there would be no discrimination of employment of workers in the defence industry
Results of the double V campaign
In September 1945, the double V was replaced with a single V representing that racism needed to be combated at home
The double V campaign helped provide a voice for Americans according to Clarence Taylor
