The impact of the new deals and the war on minorities and impact of social changes

Question 1

What was the aim of the Indian Reorganization Act?

Answer 1

To do away with Native American assimilation. To recognize and encourage native culture Tribes to be organized into self governing bodies that could vote to adopt constitutions and have their own legal systems.

Question 2

Did native Americans benefit from the New deal?

Answer 2

To some extent, their culture was now recognised and encouraged. Tribes were organised into self-governing bodies and could vote and adopt their own constitutions. They had more independence and sovereignty. They didn’t completely benefit though. Collier made sure they couldn’t take advantage of the new deal agencies like the CCC and PWA and the native Americans remained extremely poor. Relief offered to them was limited.

Question 3

How did some New deal legislation make things worse for minorities?

Answer 3

Black American share croppers were laid off due to the AAA paying farmers to produce less. Some agencies were blatantly racist such as the CCC which refused to employ black Americans.

Question 4

Why did many black Americans see Roosevelt as their saviour?

Answer 4

Discrimination was fought against by members of the administration. More black Americans were employed by the government and was support from Eleanor Roosevelt.

Question 5

Why did black Americans suffer particularly badly during the depression?

Answer 5

They were the last to be given jobs and the first to be fired. Many poorly paid jobs usually reserved for them were given to white Americans. Many New Deal agencies did not benefit them.

Question 6

How did black American voting behaviour change during the New Deal years?

Answer 6

Traditionally black Americans had voted republican but they shifted to the democrats. Many black Americans saw Roosevelt as a hero and there were 30 black american delegates in the democratic convention.

Question 7

What did Roosevelt pledge for black Americans during the war?

Answer 7

That they would be recruited in the army as a % of their population.

Question 8

How many black Americans were in the military by 1945

Answer 8

1.2 million

Question 9

How many black Americans moved north during the war years?

Answer 9

More than 1 million

Question 10

Why was Roosevelt worried about America appearing hypocritical?

Answer 10

The US were fighting the Nazis whilst denying civil rights to Black Americans.

Question 11

Outline the double V campaign.

Answer 11

A black American campaign fighting for the victory in the war and victory and home in ensuring civil rights.

Question 12

What caused the 1943 race riots?

Answer 12

Disagreement over whether one housing development should be for white or black American families.

Question 13

What was the cause of the race riots in Harlem?

Answer 13

A black American soldier was shot by a white police officer after he tried to intervene in the arrest of a female.

Question 14

What were the consequences of the Detroit and Harlem race riots?

Answer 14

Detroit: 25 black Americans and nine white Americans were killed, three days of violence.
Harlem: Six dead and 600 arrested. Crowd attacked white owned business doing $250,000-$500,000 worth of damage was done.

Question 15

What happened to Hispanic Americans during the great depression?

Answer 15

400,000 were deported to Mexico. Many southern states banned them from public works projects.

Question 16

What happened to Hispanic Americans during the war?

Answer 16

As many as 500,000 volunteered to be in the army. The war gave them a predominantly American rather than Hispanic identity. Many readily found employment although often at the lowest paid levels.

Question 17

What was the main aim of the Federal writers project (FWP)?

Answer 17

To provide employment for authors. For example 150 were employed at any one time in Indiana.

Question 18

What did the work of the FWP consist of?

Answer 18

Works of local and oral history. 2,300 first person slave narratives, detailed guidebooks of each state.

Question 19

What did the Federal Music Project (FMP) do?

Answer 19

Employed musicians to give concerts and hold music festivals. Also introduced music education into schools and document US music traditions.

Question 20

Name an example of one persons works who would have been lost were it not for the FMP?

Answer 20

Son House.

Question 21

Where was the FMP most successful?

Answer 21

Education, leading to music programmes and improvements among adults.

Question 22

What role did photography play during the great depression?

Answer 22

Documented the life of the depression, with famous photos such as ‘Migrant Mother’.

Question 23

How many black Americans were in the military by 1945?

Answer 23

1.2 million

Question 24

How was the NRA racist?

Answer 24

Allowed for unequal pay between black and white workers.

Question 25

How many black American women found employment during the war?

Answer 25

300,000

Question 26

What did executive order 8802 do?

Answer 26

Outlawed discrimination in defence

Question 27

What was native American income in 1939 as opposed to the average american?

Answer 27

$500 compared to $2,300

Question 28

How many Hispanics were deported by 1935?

Answer 28

400,000

Question 29

How many Hispanics joined the military?

Answer 29

500,000

Question 30

What did women do within the home front?

Answer 30

They grew food in Victory gardens, joined the land army and delivered rationing coupons.

Question 31

What did the FEPC fail to do for women?

Answer 31

It failed to enforce equal pay for women and didn’t manage to get them included in unions

Question 32

In Texas what % of children were taught in segregated schools where they wouldn’t learn Spanish?

Answer 32

90%

Question 33

What were black American’s initial role in the war and why did this change?

Answer 33

They were meant to be in non-combat roles only but after losses they were allowed to be in combat.

Question 34

How many were employed through the Federal Writers Project?

Answer 34

6,600