Impact of World War II on society

What was the impact of the Second World War on US society?

	By 1945, one third of all industrial workers were women, as opposed to one-quarter before the war. There were 18 million female workers in industry by 1945.
	Over 350,000 women served in the Army, 80,000 of which worked abroad as nurses, interpreters and clerics.
	Women had various organisations they could join. 200,000 joined the Women's Army Corps's (WACs), or the Navy's 'Woman Appointed for Voluntary Emergency Services (WAVES). Many also joined the American Red Cross.
	6 million women worked in war production factories.
	Women worked as machinists, ship builders, crane operators, toolmakers, rail track layers and welders.
	Factory work meant higher pay for women, but not equal pay. They endured the sexist attitudes of men and tended to leave their jobs soon after the war ended.
	Some women resented losing the independence that their salary had given them.

Before the Second World War, black Americans were often treated as second-class citizens, facing racial hatred in many parts of America. However, the war acted as a catalyst for change.

	Over 1 million black Americans joined the army, but there was segregation in the armed forces.
	Only 12 black officers were appointed. Black soldiers were rarely allowed to fly, to navigate planes or even to be sent into combat.
	Black Americans were often given jobs in kitchens or living quarters and were not even allowed to give blood transfusions to white Americans.
	Black women could join the forces as nurses, but were only allowed to to tend black soldiers.

However, as the war progressed, the situation improved.

	There was an increase in the number of black officers and pilots.
	Black soldiers saw combat duty.
	Black people were allowed to give their blood for transfusions.
	Mixed race combat units were formed, for example, the Battle of the Bulge in later 1944.

Black leaders like Philip Randolph saw the war as an ideal opportunity to improve the lives of black Americans at home.

	He and others created the 'Double V' campaign. This was for victory abroad in the war, and at home for civil rights.
	Randolph organised a 100,000 strong march on Washington in late 1941 to draw public attention to the plight of black Americans.

President Roosevelt feared strikes among black people and their sympathisers and appeased them with the creation of the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC - see picture above). The FEPC investigated racial discrimination and prevented large companies from winning war production contracts unless they eradicated racism within their companies.

	World War 2 raised public awareness of the problems of black Americans. The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) attracted 500,000 members and by 1945 made racial equality the most important domestic issue for the first time in 100 years.
	Many black Americans migrated north to work in the war industries. This caused racial tensions within some cities.

Japanese Americans faced terrible persecution in their naturalised home.

	Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbour, President Roosevelt authorised the internment (arrest without trial) of over 100,000 Japanese Americans. They were nicknamed the 'Enemy Within'.
	The government feared that they would act as spies for the Japanese government.
	They were taken from their homes and sent to relocation camps. Half a billion dollars worth of their property confiscated and forcibly sold on their behalf.