Social and Cultural Changes Flashcards
How did the WPA provide support for writers?
Created FAP (Federal Art Project), dedicated to supporting the arts. Gov became involved in production of public art.
How many pieces of art produced by 1937?
15,000 individual pieces of art- murals, paintings, posters.
How did WPA support writers?
Created FWP (Federal Writers Project), offered employment to out-of-work teachers, writers, librarians etc rather than doing manual labour with CCC
What was a well known and successful project of the FWP?
American State Guides, aimed to produce a written portrait of the cultural diversity and richness of American life e.g. The American Guide which covered all 48 states and was important to developing tourism
How many books and pamphlets published under the FWP? What were topics on?
- 275 books, 700 pamphlets
- On US cultural aspects e.g. eating habits, accounts of slaves, experiences of immigrants
How did WPA support musicians?
- Created FMP (Federal Music Project) 1935-39
- WPA Music Program 1939-43
- Provided support for unemployed musicians
- Opportunities for EM and women to be paid for their music
How did FMP support production of music?
- Attempted to produce high quality music
- Sponsored NYC musical groups that appeared on local city radio station (WNYC)
- Funded over 7000 compositions by American composers
- Funded concerts performed for 148 million people
- Offered free concerts and courses on musicianship for poor Americans
Changes in role of women
- Women’s only role earlier in the decade was domestic: marriage, children.
- WW2= millions of job openings after 11.9 million men are mobilised
- Role and status improved- their role in the workplace increasingly accepted
- over 90% of women in most areas looked forward to continued employment after the war
What was the FEPC and what did it do?
- Fair Employment Practices Committee (Executive Order 8802)
- Outlawed racial discrimination based on colour/ origin
- Made more opportunities for employment, encouraged further immigration from Old South to the north
How much of a rise did BA see in average wages as a result of WW2?
40% increase in average wages (but whites saw 60% rise)
How were employers still violating EO 8802? What did FDR do to stop this?
- Many now “forced” to take in BA, gave lower wages and unskilled jobs, still paid less even in skilled jobs
- FDR strengthens EO 8802 and raises budget by $500,000
Proportion of defence jobs held by BA?
Rises from 3% at start of WW2 to 8% at end of WW2
Role of propaganda
Ensured that the hearts and minds of Americans were completely behind gov efforts in the war
What was created in 1942 to aid propaganda? What did this do?
- Office of War Information (OWI), aimed to communicate gov’s views on the war
- Distributed posters everywhere in public spaces (parks, billboards, stations, schools)
Famous propaganda to promote female involvement in WW2
Rosie the Riveter- encouraged women to participate in war industries, slogans such as “Woman Power”
What did propaganda promote the sale of?
War bonds- bought by 85 million ordinary Americans and were a major source of funding for the war, “cash injections”
How was propaganda used against the enemy?
Demonised Japanese and German people, presented as savages, bestial, enemies of US
How did Hollywood help the war effort?
- Used as propaganda weapon, pro-British messages to gain support for Lend-Lease programme supplying them with war materials
Popular Hollywood Films during WW2
- Mrs Miniver won Best Film Oscar, film about fictional British family who stand up to Germans on the Home Front
Some Hollywood Stars and their contributions?
- Actors Clarke Cable & James Stewart volunteered and joined Air Force
- 12% of Hollywood actors joined up, 25% of Hollywood employees
- Many support gov by buying war bonds e.g. Bob Hope, Bing Crosby
Role of Disney?
- Used popular characters in propaganda e.g. Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, appeared in magazines dressed as marines, Red Cross volunteers
- Encouraged Americans to buy war bonds, grow their own food in “victory gardens”, discouraged wartime waste = very successful
Bureau of Censorship
- Exported Hollywood films abroad, especially to “neutral” countries (South America) to gain their support
- Presented US as warriors for freedom, ignored negative aspects of racism, gangsterism
Role of Radio
- Effective way to widely distribute gov’s message across the US, maintain American support, denounce the enemy
- Several Radio Talks: “Speaking of Liberty” 1941, “You can’t do business with Hitler”, 1942
- Radio shows sold War Bonds in commercial breaks
Role of Music
- Part of gov plan to give soldiers moral support
- Popular music stars contributed to war effort e.g. Swing musician Glenn Miller joined Army, his band toured European battlefields- died whilst flying from Britain to France 1944
- Singing Trio Andrew Sisters toured troop camps to entertain and boost morale
