IV The contributions of ethnic minorities to the war effort Flashcards
how many Black Americans were in the armed forces in 1941
In 1941 there were fewer than 4,000 black Americans in the armed forces and only 12 officers
how many Black Americans in the armed forces
after selective service training act- limited impact
Even after the 1940 Selective Service Training Act, that stated no-one should face discrimination when applying for training, by 1945 there were only 1.2 million black Americans serving
Black Americans in the armed forces
- how similar was segregation in armed forces compared to at home
Segregation in the armed services for black Americans was extremely similar to discrimination and segregation back home. Armed services not integrated until 1948
Losses in battles meant that black soldiers were eventually needed for fighting. 17,000 black soldiers were part of the D-Day landings and many distinguished themselves in fighting roles.
The Home front: how many black Americans moved from the South to the North during the war years
More than 1 million black Americans moved from the South to the North during the war years
Discrimination in job roles and housing
The Home front: what happened in response to discrimination; what did roosevelt order in response
Black leaders called for a March on Washington in 1941 to highlight their grievances - but FDR met with leaders the day before and the march was called off
In response Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8805 on 25 June 1941 which banned discrimination in defence plants and set up the FEPC to make sure this was carried out.
The Home front: employment of black Americans in defence plants increased by how much?
As a result, employment of black Americans in defence plants increased by almost 4%
Double ‘V’ campaign
1942: Encouraged black Americans both in the armed services and working on the Home Front to fight for victory against the Axis powers, and for victory against prejudice and discrimination at home.
impact of war on Native Americans
how many fought during ww2?
segregated or desegregated units?
At any one time during WW2, 25,000 Native Americans fought
Mainly fought in the Pacific (against Japan)
Desegregated units (with white soldiers)
420 Navajo Indians became code talkers as language too complex for Japanese to crack the messages!
Hispanic Americans
how many joined armed services
Around 500,000 joined armed services, and 17,000 worked in shipyards of Los Angeles
what was the Bracero programme:
From August 1942 began to recruit Mexicans to work in Agriculture, mines, munitions and the railroads to meet the demand of shortages in labour. The majority were often paid at the lowest rate and faced discrimination and lack of opportunities.
CONTEXT: Up to 2 million workers had been deported 1929 - 1936 to make jobs for white Amercians
“Zoot-suiter” racial attacks
summarise zoot suiter attacks
June 1943 Around the LA shipyards, white workers and sailors randomly attacked young male hispanic Americans dressed in “zoot-suits”, fashionable among them at the time. Authorities turned a blind eye.
Japanese Americans:
Of all of the ethnic minorities in America during WW2 Japanese Americans suffered the most.
- After Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, all the Japanese American population living on the West Coast were forced to leave their homes and relocate to internment camps in the desert.
- 400,000 were relocated this way. Combined estimated loss of $400 million for which most Japanese Americans were not compensated for.
