5-4.7 What were the social and political impacts of World War II on the American home front and the world?
Summarize the social and political impact of World War II on the American home front
and the world, including opportunities for women and African Americans in the work place, the
internment of the Japanese Americans, and the changes in national boundaries and governments.
and the world, including opportunities for women and African Americans in the work place, the
internment of the Japanese Americans, and the changes in national boundaries and governments.
World War II had a profound social impact on the United States that would have long term
political effects. The nation came together as each American was encouraged to “Do Your Part”
in the war effort. Each and every American was called upon to conserve scarce materials by
contributing to scrap metal drives and planting “Victory Gardens.” However voluntary
conservation was not enough and Americans were required to use ration booklets. The economy
was finally pulled out of the Depression by the war efforts. Everyone went to work to help win
the war
political effects. The nation came together as each American was encouraged to “Do Your Part”
in the war effort. Each and every American was called upon to conserve scarce materials by
contributing to scrap metal drives and planting “Victory Gardens.” However voluntary
conservation was not enough and Americans were required to use ration booklets. The economy
was finally pulled out of the Depression by the war efforts. Everyone went to work to help win
the war
Women, as homemakers, were responsible for rationing and victory gardens. More women also
began to work outside the home. They took the place of husbands, sons, and brothers in factories
and built airplanes, trucks, and ships. Although women faced discrimination, ‘Rosie the Riveter’
became an icon of the period. Women were expected to return home when the war ended and the
soldiers returned to their jobs. Despite hardships, such as discrimination and lack of child care, many women missed the workplace. This wartime experience helped lay the foundation for the women’s movement of the 1960s.
began to work outside the home. They took the place of husbands, sons, and brothers in factories
and built airplanes, trucks, and ships. Although women faced discrimination, ‘Rosie the Riveter’
became an icon of the period. Women were expected to return home when the war ended and the
soldiers returned to their jobs. Despite hardships, such as discrimination and lack of child care, many women missed the workplace. This wartime experience helped lay the foundation for the women’s movement of the 1960s.
African Americans demanded the right to wartime jobs and President Roosevelt ordered that they be given opportunity. Many more African Americans moved to cities in the north and on the Pacific coast to work in wartime industries. African Americans made some strides in the military during the war, such as the Tuskegee Airmen; however, they still served in segregated units, as was the experience in previous wars, and were often assigned duties of lesser importance because
of racial prejudice that often led those in power to doubt in their capabilities. |
The role played by African American soldiers in the war and the treatment by whites on the
home front during and after the war ended prompted President Truman to order that the army be
desegregated after World War II. The experiences of African Americans proving themselves by
serving their country at home and abroad, called the double victory campaign, helped lay the
foundation for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
home front during and after the war ended prompted President Truman to order that the army be
desegregated after World War II. The experiences of African Americans proving themselves by
serving their country at home and abroad, called the double victory campaign, helped lay the
foundation for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
Japanese Americans faced the most profound discrimination. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, one hundred ten thousand Japanese Americans were moved to internment camps in the western deserts of the United States. Made to leave their homes and businesses with little warning or compensation for the loss of their possessions and livelihoods, they were imprisoned behind barbed wire fences without the right to a trial and without proof that they were disloyal.Nonetheless, the Japanese Americans continued to be loyal to the United States. Some of them served with distinction in military units in the European theater.
As a result of the war, political boundaries of some nation-states were changed and some
governments were altered. The United States established a democracy in occupied Japan.
Germany was divided into four zones and occupied by the four Allied powers. Soon the United
States, Great Britain, and France united their zones and helped to create a democratic
government in what later became known as West Germany. The Soviet Union established a communist government in East Germany. Berlin, the former capital of Germany, was similarly divided although it was located entirely within the Soviet zone. The Soviet Union also set up puppet regimes in the eastern European nations that they liberated from German occupation. Although the United States emerged from the war as a dominant world power, it would soon find itself in confrontation with its World War II ally, the Soviet Union. The Cold War had its roots in differences in wartime priorities between the United States, Great Britain and France, and the Soviet Union.
governments were altered. The United States established a democracy in occupied Japan.
Germany was divided into four zones and occupied by the four Allied powers. Soon the United
States, Great Britain, and France united their zones and helped to create a democratic
government in what later became known as West Germany. The Soviet Union established a communist government in East Germany. Berlin, the former capital of Germany, was similarly divided although it was located entirely within the Soviet zone. The Soviet Union also set up puppet regimes in the eastern European nations that they liberated from German occupation. Although the United States emerged from the war as a dominant world power, it would soon find itself in confrontation with its World War II ally, the Soviet Union. The Cold War had its roots in differences in wartime priorities between the United States, Great Britain and France, and the Soviet Union.
Blended Model 1- Students will read ABDO book (linked below) on Life During WWII pages 21-33. They will complete the "State Your Claim Organizer".
Life During World War II | |
File Size: | 7528 kb |
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Blended Model 2- Students will use the video linked below in the Blendspace 1. Watch the video and complete the "3-Video Analysis".
Blended Model 3- Students will read ABDO book (linked below) on Great Depression and WWII 1929-1945 pages 28-41. As you read, collect/chart the social and political impacts of WWII on the American home front and the world.
Great Depression and WWII 1929-1945 | |
File Size: | 2018 kb |
File Type: |