Experience of Black servicemen in WW2

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Historians argue that another reason for the development of the civil rights movement was the impact of WW2 and the experience of Black Soldiers.

Question 2

Knowledge 1

Answer 2

Despite the US army being segregated at the beginning of WW2, black servicemen had freedoms they did not have before. War camp prisoners and black airmen were even treated as officers, regardless of colour.

Question 3

Analysis 1

Answer 3

This led to the growth of the civil rights movement as black soldiers, sailors, and airmen supported the ‘Double V’ campaign: victory against enemy abroad in war and victory for civil rights at home in the USA. The Congress Of Racial Equality (CORE) was created in 1942 to jump on this campaign and they began a mass movement for civil rights.

Question 4

Knowledge 2

Answer 4

Moreover, A. Philip Randolph threatened a mass protest march in Washington unless defence industry jobs and armed forced discrimination and segregation was abolished.

Question 5

Analysis 2

Answer 5

This led to the growth and development of the civil rights movement because Randolph and his Union led to the victory from Roosevelt, Executive Order 8802 which stated the end to discrimination in employment on the basis of race, colour, or religion.

Question 6

Counter Analysis

Answer 6

However, this had its limitations as when the soldiers did return home in 1945, white people resented them as there was more competition for jobs and housing which led to horrible riots in 25 US cities. The city authorities were not sympathetic towards black people nd they supported the whites instead. Returning soldiers also faced attacks in the South in 1946, scaring them from fighting for their entitled rights.

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

To evaluate, WW2 was critical as a reason for the growth of the civil rights movement as historian Hugh Brogan argues that “wartime service made Black Americans more conscious of their strength, and the need for united action.” It was this increased solidarity that resulted in an increased membership of organisations such as the NAACP which saw their membership swell to 450,000 by the end of WW2, proving that the experience of WW2 was important when explaining the growth of the civil rights movement.