The War and Civil The War and Civil RightsRights

On the Move

►Migration►Moved from East to West and from

North to South►California had some of the biggest

gains in population with San Diego growing quickest of all Cali cities

Boomtowns

►San Diego- Naval Facilities►Mobile Alabama- Shipyards ►New population created issues:

Not enough housing Schools lacked space, teachers, and

money Water and plumbing were unsanitary

Racial Tensions Go Pop

► Midwesterners call southern migrants “Hillbillies.”► Detroit Riots► June 1943

African Americans and sailors fight Next day sailors roam the city beating and killing African-

Americans 34 were killed

► Zoot Suit Riots Summer 1943 Mexican-Americans and sailors Sailors cruised mexican neighborhoods beating teenagers

with batons Police arrest only Zoot Suiters

Family Issues

►Moms and Dads had to work so children were left to fend for themselves

►Teenage workers went to 2.9 million►1+ million dropped out of school►Child labor laws ignored►Juvenile violence and crime jumped

exponentially

End of New Deal

►New Deal programs ended in December 1943►Workweek hours were increased to 48 and

other labor laws changed or ignored to help the war effort

►Deficit spending- using borrowed money, became the norm in order to avoid economic downturn

►Roosevelt reelected to 4th consecutive term in 1944

► Issues now facing America included: housing shortages, overcrowding, breakdowns of law and order, and juvenile crime.

Issue of RaceIssue of Race

►Hitler’s race discrimination made Hitler’s race discrimination made minorities in the United States aware minorities in the United States aware of the problems here in Americaof the problems here in America

►Unequal treatment of African Unequal treatment of African AmericansAmericans

► Japanese internment campsJapanese internment camps

RacismRacism

►Belief that race determines human Belief that race determines human capacities and that some races are capacities and that some races are superior to otherssuperior to others

►Such beliefs were the basis for Such beliefs were the basis for segregation and discriminationsegregation and discrimination

►Science had proven that racial traits Science had proven that racial traits were a product of environmental were a product of environmental influences influences

►Move from south increases political Move from south increases political influenceinfluence

Civil Rights GainsCivil Rights Gains

►A. Philip Randolph was the father of A. Philip Randolph was the father of the Civil Rights movementthe Civil Rights movement

►Appalled by discrimination in the Appalled by discrimination in the armed forces as well as high paying armed forces as well as high paying jobs in government aided businessesjobs in government aided businesses

►Organized a March on WashingtonOrganized a March on Washington

Roosevelt / Randolph Roosevelt / Randolph CompromiseCompromise

►Roosevelt wanted to prevent the Roosevelt wanted to prevent the marchmarch

►National image and safetyNational image and safety►They finally sat down / 3 itemsThey finally sat down / 3 items

Gov’t contracts denied to those that Gov’t contracts denied to those that discriminatediscriminate

Abolish segregation in federal agenciesAbolish segregation in federal agencies Desegregation of the armed forcesDesegregation of the armed forces

Other VictoriesOther Victories

►Randolph’s success breeds more Randolph’s success breeds more groups groups

►Non violent/ sit-ins, boycotts, marchesNon violent/ sit-ins, boycotts, marches►NAACP membership growingNAACP membership growing►Education, political pressure, legal Education, political pressure, legal

actionaction

Fair Employment Practices Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC)Committee (FEPC)

►Limited power – could recommend a Limited power – could recommend a contractor lose its contract but in contractor lose its contract but in wartime the gov’t was not likely to wartime the gov’t was not likely to cancel contractscancel contracts

►FEPC ineffective against railroads FEPC ineffective against railroads ►Battles with congress (communist) plus Battles with congress (communist) plus

struggle for funding struggle for funding ►Prior to end of war funding cut in half Prior to end of war funding cut in half

and then dissolvedand then dissolved

Internment CampsInternment Camps

Spring 1942 120,000 Japanese Americans Spring 1942 120,000 Japanese Americans moved from their homes to relocation campsmoved from their homes to relocation camps

1/3 foreign born1/3 foreign born

Easily singled out and a lack of political powerEasily singled out and a lack of political power

They were forced to sell possessions and only They were forced to sell possessions and only take a few items with themtake a few items with them

5 cents to the dollar (approx.500 million loss)5 cents to the dollar (approx.500 million loss)

Life in CampsLife in Camps

►Warm in summer / cold in the winterWarm in summer / cold in the winter►Some released to do jobs in the interior Some released to do jobs in the interior

U.SU.S►Tried to live normal livesTried to live normal lives

NewspapersNewspapers SchoolsSchools Churches Churches Boy scoutsBoy scouts Softball leaguesSoftball leagues

Supreme CourtSupreme Court

►Rulings upheld policies toward Rulings upheld policies toward Japanese AmericansJapanese Americans

► Judiciary cannot second guess military Judiciary cannot second guess military decisions decisions

►One justices against said it was One justices against said it was legalized racismlegalized racism