Transcript Race Relations- -Scientific Development

The War on the Homefront
The Effect of WWII on The United States Economy,
Race Relations, Scientific Development,
Women and Hollywood
-United States EconomyOffice of Price Administration

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Froze the prices of goods so that inflation did not push them
up
In charge of food rationing – issued ration stamps to U.S
citizens
Rationing = reduced consumption of energy, goods, and
supplies deemed essential for the military
War Productions Board


In charge of fuel and gasoline rationing; organized “drives”
to collect these items
Chose which industries/factories would change from peacetime production (refrigerators, cars, etc) to war-time
production (tanks, airplanes, etc)
Department of the Treasury

Sold war bonds to help pay for the war (you buy the bond,
government gets your money to pay for war, after the war
you turn in your bond and government pays you back +
interest)
-United States EconomyNational War Labor Board
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Froze wages
Kept unions from striking
Congress

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Raising the income tax rate
Extended the income tax to
people who had never paid it
before
-Race RelationsTHE BAD:
 The military during WWII was segregated
– black units and white units
 Most African Americans were given noncombatant jobs
 In war industries, African Americans still
faced rampant racism and discrimination.
A. Philip Randolph wanted to have a
“March on Washington” to protest, but
FDR convinced him to wait until after the
war was over. FDR issues executive order
calling for the end of discrimination in the
war industry.
 Also in 1943, the Zoot-Suit Riots took
place – the result of Mexican youths
fighting back against discrimination and
racism
-Race RelationsJapanese Internment:
•
After the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor, FDR issues Executive Order
9066, the internment (imprisonment)
of all people of Japanese ancestry from
Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast.
(Including native born Americans of
Japanese ancestry = Nisei )
•
The interment was taken the U.S.
Supreme Court (Korematsu v. U.S.)
which declared the order
constitutional, even though it violates
the 14th amendment. (14th = laws must
be applied in unbiased manner
regardless of race, religion, sex, or
national origin)
•
In 1988, President Reagan authorized
the giving of $20,000 to each of the
Japanese American who was interned.
-Race RelationsTHE GOOD:
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Japanese Americans and Native
Americans served mainly in the
Pacific where their language skills
could be used – the Japanese
listened to and translated Japanese
messages and the Navajo used
their language as a code that the
Japanese could never break
Tuskegee Airmen – the first
black combat group of the Army
Air Corps. Served as bomber
escorts, engaging in direct combat
with German fighters.
-Scientific DevelopmentOffice of Scientific Research and
Development
 A collection of scientists brought together
for the purpose of improving war-time
technology
 Improved sonar and radar
 Use of pesticides to rid soldiers of body
lice
 Developed penicillin
 The Manhattan Project
 The atom was first split by German
scientists
 Albert Einstein, a Jewish German
scientist, fled to the United States and
warned FDR about Germany's
technology
 FDR begins the Manhattan Project in
order for the U.S to develop the the
first atomic bomb
-WomenIn the war effort:
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George Marshals (Sec. Of State) creates
the Womens Auxillary Army Corps
(WAAC) – it provided a way for women
volunteers to serve in noncombat positions
Most WAACs worked as nurses,
ambulance drivers, and radio operators
In war industries:

Although women only earned 60% of what
their male counterparts earned, they filled
job vacancies left open by the draft
At home:
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Created “Victory Gardens” so they
wouldn't have to buy food
Married early and quickly before their
“sweethearts” went overseas
-HollywoodAfter Pearl Harbor, Hollywood made
many propaganda-like films which
depicted many of the following themes:
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Favoritism towards the Soviet Union
Support of the Allies
Demonization of the Germans and
Japanese
However, the U.S public became weary
of war movies and favored more escapist
themes (like during the Great
Depression). Some of these movies
actually made fun of war. (Marx
Brothers and Charlie Chaplin)