Chapter 17 Section 4 Notes Life in the U.S. during WWII

Death Toll of WWII Roughly 75 million people die during WWII Includes military personnel and civilians 25 million Soviets 15 million Chinese 8 million Germans 6 million Polish (most Jews) 3.5 million Japanese 500,000 French 500,000 English 410,000 U.S. 2nd biggest loss of life in war ever Civil War 1st (620,000) Nearly 59 years after the end of World War II, the National World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, May 29, 2004 to honor the 408,680 Americans who died in the conflict

G.I. Bill of Rights (1944) Returning soldiers get 3 major benefits most of tuition or technical training paid for by the govt. 1 year worth of unemployment benefits low interest loans for houses or starting businesses

The U.S. Economy during WWII Bottom line: Overall… it was great. Unemployment rate = 1.2% (extremely low). Avg. = 4% Ends Great Depression Avg. weekly pay rose over 10% each year during most of the war People saved $ for future (war bonds with good interest)

Agriculture during WWII Generally good weather for growing crops High Demand for crops = Higher prices Production increased by 50% Avg. Annual income of farmers tripled between 1940 & 1945 Used the $ to pay off mortgages on farms & land plus loans for equipment

Women in the U.S. during WWII Around 6 million in work force 35% of total work force was women (way higher than before WWII) This lowered again after the war Received better pay than before Still paid less than males though Worked in areas that were not available to women before Journalism Truck and Bus Drivers Pilots Defense Plants

Family life during and after WWII Most mothers of young children had husbands at war Worked in factories to support themselves and kids Children either left with grandparents, day care, or at school A lot of “quick” marriages Causes rise in divorce rate

Population shifts within the U.S. during WWII People move to where better jobs are war factories, shipyards Where to? West Coast (California especially) 1 million new people Midwest (including Detroit) Mid-Atlantic (mainly NYC)

Where did most of these people come from? The South (a lot were African – American) Faced discrimination Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Founded by James Farmer Helped fight segregation in the North Sit ins, marches, etc… (all peaceful) Much later in the South (1960’s) Internal Migration during WWII

Race Riots during WWII Detroit (1943) Los Angeles (1943) Began as an argument at a beach Rumors made it worse 34 dead. (9 white, 25 black) Los Angeles (1943) Anti – Mexican feelings Began when white sailors reported being attacked 100’s beaten Targets wore distinctive clothing zoot suits Short clip and link to more info on website

Japanese discrimination in the U.S. during WWII Gov. afraid of spies or terrorists in U.S. after Pearl Harbor Roughly 110,000 lived along West Coast Near military bases and shipyards FDR ordered their internment (confinement) Sent to 10 camps during the war Most born here & U.S. citizens (Nisei) Some were not (born overseas or illegals) Lost jobs sold homes & property for little $ Never charged with anything Released after the war

Korematsu v. U.S. (1944) Supreme Court decides U.S. Govt. was acting legally doing this “military necessity during time of war”

Japanese American Citizens League Pushed the U.S. Govt. to admit they were wrong for internments Eventually did years later Paid some damages for lost property in 1960s Paid more to survivors in the early 1990s