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

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

15. 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