Social Developments: Impact of WWII on Unions and Women, Japanese Americans and African Americans Flashcards
In what year during WWII did 6 million women join the American workforce?
1944
What was a limitation of female employment after World War II?
They returned back to their traditional roles
What percentage of women were employed by 1945?
60%
What percentage of employees in munitions were women during WWII?
50% of employees
Who was the First Lady from 1933 to 1945?
Eleanor Roosevelt
What was significant about Eleanor Roosevelt’s role as First Lady in relation to her husband?
She often spoke out against her husband’s policies
What did Eleanor Roosevelt do for Civil Rights in 1936?
She hosted a garden party for black girls in the White House
What did a 1942 poll show about how Americans felt with women in the workforce?
60% were in favour of it
What percentage of mens wages did women get paid during WWII?
50% of mens wages
By what factor did the amount of African Americans working for the federal government increase by from 1939 to 1945?
Increased by a factor of 4
What year was the Wagner Act passed and what did it do?
1935, it made joining a trade union legal
How much did trade union membership in the USA increase from 1935 to 1940?
Increased by 200%
What policy did the Congress of Industrial Organizations commit themselves for unions during WWII?
A no-strike policy
What did Civil Rights activist A Philip Randolph threaten in 1941?
Threatened to do a march opposing racial discrimination in jobs
What did Franklin Rooseevelt pass to respond to A. Phillip Randolph’s threat?
Executive Order 8802
What did Executive Order 8802 do?
It banned racial discrimination in the defence industry
What year was Executive Order 8802 passed?
1941
What commission did Executive Order 8802 set up (FEPC)
Fair Employment Practices Commission
What percentage of discrimination cases was the Fair Employment Practices Commission successful with in the North?
66% of cases
What percentage of discrimination cases was the Fair Employment Practices Commission successful with in the West?
50% of cases
How many cases did the Fair Employment Practices Commission work on?
8000 cases
What form of strikes occurred against African Americans?
Hate strikes
Name a state that often experienced hate strikes
Detroit
What did a Kansas Steel business say about their situation with employing African Americans by 1940?
They had not had an African American employee for 25 years
What was the situation for most trade unions in letting African Americans join them during WWII?
They would not let them join
How many African Americans were in the USA in 1940 and how many of them were employed?
13 million African Americans in 1940, 5 million were employed
How many African American women were employed in 1940?
2 million
What percentage of annual White American wages did African Americans make during WWII?
Made 50% of White American’s wages
What did a 1940 survey show with defence industries wanting to employ African Americans?
Half of them did not want to employ African Americans
What happened in Detroit in 1943?
There was a race riot
How many people were killed in the 1943 Detroit Riot?
30 people
How many people were involved in the 1943 Detroit Riot?
100,000 people
What happened in the 1943 Battle of Bamber Bridge in the USA?
White police officers attacked Black soldiers
What film was created to try and reduce racial tensions?
“The Negro Soldier”
What fraction of African American soldiers went overseas during WWII?
1/8
Which part of the American military experienced discrimination the most?
The Navy
How many people were killed after some ammunition exploded on a ship in the Navy?
300 people
What year did the ammunition Navy explosion occur?
1944
Which all-African American airforce group was made?
The Tuskegee Airmen
By what year had 600 African Americans been trained to fly?
1945
What was an issue with the Tuskegee Airmen in terms of separation?
They were a segregated force
Why did Franklin Roosevelt continue to not largely improve the situation for African Americans?
He felt it would result in the loss of the Solid South
What did Executive Order 9346 do to the Fair Employment Practices Commission?
It gave them an extra $500,000 in funding
What year was the GI Bill of Rights passed?
1944
What did the 1944 GI Bill of Rights say?
All young returning soldiers would have part of their education paid for them
What would the GI Bill of Rights mean for young men going to college?
More of them would be able to go
Was the GI Bill of Rights made for African American soldiers too?
Yes
How many Japanese Americans were put into isolation in 1941?
2000
How many Japanese Americans were put into Isolation in 1942?
15,000
How did Idaho respond to Japanese Americans coming into their state?
They said their state was for white people only
Which state did some Japanese Americans go to to try and escape being put into Isolation?
Idaho
How many Japanese Americans were put into isolation centres in 1943?
100,000 Japanese Americans
What happened to Japanese Americans’ houses while they were in isolation?
They were raided
How much money was lost for Japanese Americans due to their houses being raided?
$400 million
What year did the government give money as compensation to Japanese Americans?
1948
How much money did the USA government give Japanese Americans in compensation?
$40 million
