MINORITIES DURING WWII GUIDED NOTES
AFRICAN-AMERICANS
· Over ______________ million men registered from the ________________ during ________
o Only _________________________ African-Americans served in the military
· Where were African-American soldiers stationed? ___________________________________________
· Troops were ___________________________ and most African-American soldiers were given ________________________ , not combat jobs
· Segregation Protests
o In May 1941, _______________________________ issued “A Call to Negro America to march on Washington” to protest ______________________________ in _______________________ industries
o In response President ________________________ issued Executive Order ______________ barring discrimination in defense industries and federal bureaus
o The Pittsburgh Courier started the _________________________________________________ campaign shortly after the war began
· Tuskegee Airmen
o Congress forced the __________________________________________ to create an all black combat unit in 1941
o The _______________________________________________ trained at Tuskegee Institute (also nicknamed _________________________________ or ___________________________ )
o The Tuskegee Airmen fought in ____________________________ and __________________ -- mainly as bomber escorts
o The Tuskegee Airmen received many unit citations and individual medals for bravery
WOMEN
· Approximately ______________________________ U.S. worked during WWII
· Women were told factory work was _________________________
· ___________________ still existed – women were often given ________________, less __________________________ positions and paid ___________________________
· ________________________________________ symbolized the American working woman
· Women in the Military
o Women served in the ________________, _________________, ________________ and as nurses in all areas of WWII
o Women __________ _____________ serve in combat position – they mostly worked in _________________, communications, __________________ or nursing units
· Women at Work
o From 1940 – 1944 ________ million new women joined the workforce, most in _____________ and service jobs
o Women were paid less than men for the same work
o Who had a harder time finding work? _______________________________________________
HISPANICS
· Hispanics in WWII
o It’s estimated that _________________ - ______________________ Hispanics served in the U.S. military during WWII
o National Guard units from __________, ____________ and ________________ were made up of primarily Hispanic soldiers; as well as National Guard units from Puerto Rico
o Hispanic troops were not segregated but Hispanic soldiers faced racism
· Hispanics on the Homefront
o _____________________________________: implemented by the U.S. and Mexican governments in 1942
§ Allowed Mexican ______________________________ to enter U.S. to work farms and later build __________________________________________
§ The workers sometimes faced harsh conditions
· ______________ Suit Riots: In __________________________ 1943, U.S. soldiers attacked Hispanic young men, removing their Zoot Suits
NATIVE AMERICANS
· More than _____________% of Native American men __________________ for service when WWII began
· Led a large number to leaving reservations -- _______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
· _________________________ were used in the Pacific as “_____________ ____________” – Japanese were unable to break their codes
PRIMARY SOURCES READING QUESTIONS
A. Phillip Randolph from Call to Negro America to March on Washington (1941)
1. What kind of equality did Randolph advocate?
2. How did his outlook compare with that of Booker T. Washington?
3. Why did Randolph focus on a protest march as his preferred tactic?
4. What other options might have been available?
5. Assess the advantages and disadvantages of Randolph’s linking of domestic racial equality with global freedom?
Women in War Industries
6. Assess whether factory work for women offered more sacrifices or opportunities.
7. What racial or gender stereotypes emerged in these accounts?
8. What did such attitudes suggest about the prospects for social progress in postwar era?
9. How do you think these women would educate their own children about their vocational futures? Why?
Political Cartoons
Political Cartoons allow people to provide political commentary beyond written words. Most political cartoons are designed to influence viewers with regard to specific political events of the day. You are to create a political cartoon commenting on World War II-era race riots. Briefly review the injustice and irony of how minorities were treated during a war for freedom and justice. Choose either the Detroit or Los Angeles riot as the subject (see pages 592 – 593) and create a cartoon that comments on the injustice and irony of the situation. Do your best and be creative. Remember all drawing, comments and slogans must be appropriate.