Survey Flashcards
- The impact of World War II on the circumstances of African Americans in the US
- Roosevelts executive order 8802
- Employment of 100,000,000 african americans
Before World War I, the African-American population was largely concentrated in the southern US states, and there was very little representation of black Americans in the military.
However, the nature of World War I called for compromise.
In June 1941, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802 which prohibited defence industries from discriminating by race when employing workers.
Resulted in the employment 1,000,000 African Americans.
Wartime production was based in Northern US states, which led to significant black migration from the poorer agricultural conditions of the South
The impact of World War II on the circumstances of African Americans in the US
- Govt allowed African americans to enlist in segregated units
- 1M served the miltary
- Increased demands for inequality
Due to the increasing demands of WWII from the 1940s, the government allowed many African Americans to enlist in segregated units.
Between 1941-45, over 1,000,000 black Americans served in the military. They were treated better abroad, yet returned as second-class citizens.
Despite this, returned soldiers realised their worth for the US in the War which would increase demands for equality.
The impact of World War II on the circumstances of African Americans in the US
- Impact of WW11 catalysed demands for CR
- demands to end ‘Seperate but equal’ doctine
The overall impact of WWII was that it catalysed demands for increased civil rights and an end to the status quo ‘Separate but Equal’ Doctrine that had existed under from the 1896 ‘Plessy vs Ferguson’ Case, legitimising racial segregation in US public and private spheres.
The evidence behind the impact of WWII includes:
- 1942: Formation of CORE
- 1946: Civil Rights Commission formed; interstate bus segregation outlawed
- 1948: Truman’s Executive Order 9981 - Military officially desegregated
Extent of Racial Segregation & Forms of Discrimination
- De jure segregation
- De jure segregation
This applied in the South, and means racial segregation endorsed by law.
The Jim Crow Laws officialised racial segregation in nearly every public facility imaginable.
- Restaurants, toilets, pools, funerals, housing.
This was backed by the ‘Separate but Equal’ Doctrine endorsed by the US Supreme Court from the 1986 ‘P v F’ Case.
Extent of Racial Segregation & Forms of Discrimination
- De facto segregation
- De facto segregation
This applied in Northern US states, describing racial segregation that was not legislated, but still maintained through social attitudes and behaviours.
In the North, African Americans still experienced low house ownerships, bank discrimination, and higher rates of poverty.
Extent of Racial Segregation & Forms of Discrimination
- Rotuine violence
- Lynchings, KKK
- Disadvantaged education
Especially in the south, routine violence was prominent.
Lynchings (Public killings) of black Americans were common, with an estimated 2,500 between 1882-96.
Groups such as the KKK drove these attitudes against black Americans.
Throughout the US, African American children faced education disadvantage (6x higher illiteracy through the 1940s than white children) and all age groups were socially and politically disadvantaged, with extremely low rates of voting.
