3.3 How far did the period to 1945 bring social and cultural change to the USA Flashcards
(23 cards)
how did the WPA provide support for writers and musicians
-by 1937, thousands of artists owned more than 15,000 individual pieces of art, such as murals, paintings and posters
-the federal arts project employed 6,600 people, made up of everyday professionals, but also notable writers such as Saul Bellow who won a noble prize for literature
what did the federal writers project do
-aimed to offer employment to out of work teachers, librarians and writers
-two of the most well known projects were american state guides and america eats
–aim was to produce a writtten portrait of the cultural diversity and richness of american life
what were america state guides
-covered all 48 states and was perhaps one of the most lasting achievements of the FWP
-each state was responsible for its own guide
-important aid in developing tourism
what was america eats
-information of the origins of american cuisine and regional specialities
-FWP workers collected oral histories including interviews with former slaves NAs and immigrants about their experiences of arriving in the USA
-under the FWP. 275 books and 700 pamphlets were published
how did the federal music project and WPA music programme aid musicians
-help given to unemployed musicians
-incldued instrumentalists, singers and music teachers
-FMP attempted to produce high quality music and singing in a variety of forms
-sponsored many New York city musical groups that appeared on the local city radio station WNYC
-funded 7300 compositions by 2300 composers
-FMP funded concerts 148 million people
-gave BAs, HAs and women a chance to play music and be paid for it
encouraged a revival of traditional folk music
what was the of women before ww2
-traditionally, marry and raise children
-the social changes of the 1920a opened up new opportunities in employment but these paled into insignificance compared to the millions of jobs created by ww2
six months after the attack on pearl harbour, what did FDR sign
-executive order 8802
-creating the fair employment practices commission
-outlawed racial discrimination based on colour or national origin
what did the fair employment practices commision provide
-gavw BAs opportuninties for employment and helped encourage further migration from the old south to northern cities assiciated with war production such as Detroit and Cleveland
what was the downside to this further migration from the old south
-housing was overcrowded and many BAs were forced to live in segregated housing areas
-employers usually gave BAs low wages and menial jobs
-even when BAs did get skilled jobs in jobs such as the shipyard in Galveston, they received low skilled wage rates
-white workers saw a 60% increase in wage rates during ww2, but BAs only saw a 40% rise
how did FDR decide to strengthen the FEPC -
-executive order 9346
-increased the FEPCs budget by $500,000 and replaced its part time staff with full tme professionals
-by 1945, 8%of defence jobs held by BAs compared to only 3%
when did the FEPC end
-1946
-there were two attempts to recreate the FEPC on a permanent basis in 1946 and 48 but both of these failed to pass a Republican controlled congress
what was the 1942 Office of War Information
-aim was to communicate the government’s views on war
-posters in public places such as billboards on highways, railways, schools
created the character Rosie the Riveter and slogan “woman power” to encourage women to participate in the war industries
-posters warned about spies, spreading gossip “loose lips cost ships”
what were national war bond campaigns
-war bonds bought by ordinary americans were a major source of funding the war
how could propaganda be negative
-could be used to demonise the enemy
-germans and japanese were depicted as sub-humans who were determined to destroy the american way of life
what did a senate subcommittee hope about hollywood during ww2
that pro british messages in films would help the cause of supplying britain with lend lease materials
in 1941, why did Gary Cooper in an oscar for best actor
-for his representation of a US soldier who captured 20 german prisoners of war in ww1
in 1942, what film won best film at the oscars
-Mrs Miniver
-a film about a fictional british family who was standing up to germans in the home front
what was fanous director John Ford employed by the Navy to do
-to make films about the naval war in the pacific
-also made a Hollywood film about the war, starring John Wayne in They Were Expendable
how did Hollywood actors contrubte to the war effort
-12% joined the air force
-25% hollywood employees fought in the war
-many others joined government efforts in supporting the war
-Bob Hope, among others, sold war bonds
How did the Walt Disney company contribute to the war effort
-mickey mouse and donald duck appeared in magazines such as the coronet dressed as marines and red cross volunteers
-disney produced two income tax films and produced posters selling war bonds
-the fifth war bond drive of 1944 discouraged wartime waste
-successful disney campaign to encouraged americans to grow their own food in victory gardens
how did the office of war information aim to supervise Hollywood
-set up two subagencies
-The bureau of motion pictures produced educational films
-the bureau pf cencorship oversaw the export of Hollywood films
-made sure the negative aspects of america, like the gangsterism and racial discrimination, were not exported
how important was radio during ww2
-1941, sries of broadcasts called 2”speaking of liberty” and in 1942, “you cant do business with hitler”
-the us treasury sponsored many radio shows where war bonds were sold in commercial breaks
-sitcoms were popular in addressinf issues such as petrol rationing, buying war bonds
how did popular musicians contribute to the war effort
-band leader Glen Miller joined the army and his band toured european battlefields
-glen miller died in the war while travelling in plane from britain to france to entertain US troops
-band leader Artie Shaw served in the US navy
-the Andrews sisters went on tours of troop camps
