Topic 3 US Flashcards
The impact of the New Deal and WWII
The economy in 1940
Roosevelt introduced the Lend-lease in May 1940
Congress allocated $4 billion towards the development of the US Navy in July 1940
and allocated $17 towards defence in October
GNP was up to $113 billion from $68.3 billion in 1933
During the same period, index of industrial production rose from 62 to 126
Exports rose from $1.67 billion to $4.02 billion
Unemployment halved
Economy appeared twice as healthy as it had been in 1933
Despite improvement in the economy, the rate of recovery had stalled in 1937
Personal income was almost four times higher in 1945 than in 1933
Impact of the New Deal on Native Americans
The Indian Reorganisation Act of 1934 reorganised and encouraged culture
Stemmed away from assimilation
Tribes reorganised into self-governing bodies capable of adopting constitutions and have own police and legal systems
Could control land sales on reservations
Arguably, traditional culture undermined efforts to modernise and join mainstream society
75 out of 245 tribes vetoed
Weren’t ensured places on New Deal agencies
After New Deal, they set up pressure groups to promote their development but often remained amongst the poorest people of the USA.
The impact of the New Deal on black Americans
Roosevelt needed vote of Southern Democrats, who were often racist - most loyal supporters during ND
AAA for instance worked against black Americans
Last to be offered jobs and first to be fired
NRA codes allowed black Americans to be paid less than white Americans for the same job
CCC was run by a Southern racist
Faced strict segregation
Anti lynching bills introduced in Congress in 1934 and 1937 were defeated and Roosevelt offered no support for these
Black Americans changing voting behaviour
Traditionally voted Republican - fought the civil war and put an end to slavery
In 1932 of 15 black wards in nine major cities Roosevelt won only 4
In 1936 he won nine
In 1940 he won all 15
In Harlem he won around 85%
A Gallup poll in 1936 showed nationally 76% intended t vote for Roosevelt
In 1936 there were 30 black American delegates to Democratic Convention
In 1936 the first black American Congressman, Arthur Mitchell, delivered the opening speech
Arguably not due to the New Deal
The impact of support for Roosevelt’s government on black Americans
Eleanor Roosevelt was determined to stop racism
She ensured black Americans met President
She sat in ‘coloured’ section during conference in 1938
After singer Marion Anderson was refused permission to sing before an integrated audience at Constitution Hall in Washington 1939, Harold Ickes, Secretary of the Inferior, arranged for her to give a concert in front of 75,000, including Eleanor Roosevelt, at the Lincoln Memorial.
These gestures were significant in giving official respectability to the notion that racism was wrong and helped black American leaders gain confidence
After Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, threatened a march on Washington in 1941 to protest against work discrimination, Roosevelt passed Executive Order 8802 outlawing discrimination in the defence industry and setting up Fair Employment Practices Committee
President employed more black Americans in government
Civil service tripled number of black Americans in employment between 1932-41 to 150,000
In NYA black American officials were usually appointed where black Americans predominated - positive discrimination
Few official measures to benefit them
Benefited from relief despite favouring whites
Black Americans in the military
In 1941 there were fewer than 4,000 in armed forces and less than 12 officers
After pressure from NAACP black Americans would be recruited based on percentage of population - 10.6%
By 1945 there were 1.2 million in armed forces
Faced discrimination despite 1940 Selective Service Training Act - stated no discrimination during application for training
Limited to combat roles
Through losses, authority assigned them combat roles ; 17,000 landed on beaches on D-Day June 1944
Military remained segregated as Secretary of War Henry Stimson it was essential to winning the war
Wartime committees support and wartime measures chaired by Southern Congressmen
Shortages led to 25 warships being integrated and some camps outside South desegregated
The home front
More than a million black Americans moved north
Prejudice remained - In Akron, Ohio, black Americans were offered unskilled jobs and faced discrimination in housing
Black American leaders called a march on Washington in 1941 of 250,000 people
Nazi attitudes were a concern for Roosevelt
Issued Executive Order 8802 on 25th June 1941 to ban discrimination in defence plants and set up FEPC
Black American workforce rose by almost 4%
FEPC’s budget increased and toke full time employees
The ‘Double V Campaign’
Initiated by the Philadelphia Courier in February 1942
fought courageously for in armed forces and workplace
Featured patriotic articles
Promoted war bonds
Featured Double V girl - V for victory salute
celebrity endorsements
Courier survey showed 88% said civil rights should not be delayed until end of WWII
Holocaust made people examine attitudes
Restaurant in Salina, Kansas served German prisoners of war but not black Americans
CRE in 1942 encouraged peaceful protests against segregated facilities
Race Riots
3 days in Detroit in June 1943
25 black Americans and 9 white Americans killed
over housing developments
Riot in Harlem caused 6 deaths and arrest of 600
A black soldier was shot by police due to arrest of a female
3,000 gathered to attack white owned businesses
$250,000-$500,000 damage
1,485 stores broken into and looted
Change for Hispanic Americans
more employment
discrimination continued
90% of Hispanic children in Texas were in segregated schools
Over 1930s, 400,000 sent to Mexico
California labour force fell by 10% as they were replaced by migrants
Southern western states banned them from public work schemes
Hispanic Americans and the war
estimated 500,000 served in armed forces
Arguably gave them a US identity
worked on railroads, shipyards, mines, aircraft and munitions factories
lowest-paid
17,000 found employment in LA shipyards by 1944 which in 1941 employed none
FEPC study found discrimination in oil companies and copper companies in Arizona
The State Department vetoed a proposed public inquiry
Roosevelt agreed to halt investigation
those from US protectorate found plentiful work in war industry
Higher wages in war industry meant more independence for Hispanic women, who usually work seasonal work in agriculture - caused tension in family
Women were bilingual so in demand in cryptology and communications
war allowed achieve more than expectations
