TOPIC: The American Homefront

During World War II, James G. Thompson, an African-American man from Wichita, Kansas, wrote this letter in January of 1942 to the Pittsburgh Courier, a black owned newspaper, to express his feelings about the war.

Dear Editor:

Like all true Americans, my greatest desire at this time, this crucial point of our history, is a desire for a complete victory over the forces of evil, which threaten our existence today. Most of our leaders are suggesting that we sacrifice every other ambition to the paramount one, victory. With this I agree; but I also wonder if another victory could not be achieved at the same time.

Being an American of dark complexion and some 26 years, these questions flash through my mind: ‘Should I sacrifice my life to live half American?’ ‘Will things be better for the next generation in the peace to follow?’ ‘Would it be demanding too much to demand full citizenship rights in exchange for the sacrificing of my life? Is the kind of America I know worth defending? Will America be a true and pure democracy after this war? Will Colored Americans suffer still the indignities that have been heaped upon them in the past? These and other questions need answering; I want to know, and I believe every colored American, who is thinking, wants to know.

...I suggest that while we keep defense and victory in the forefront that we don’t lose sight of our fight for democracy at home. The V for victory sign is being displayed prominently. If this V sign means that to those now engaged in this great conflict then let we colored Americans adopt the double VV for a double victory. The first V for victory over our enemies from without, the second V for victory over our enemies from within

In way of an answer to the foregoing questions in a preceding paragraph I might say that there is no doubt that this country is worth defending; things will be different for the next generation; colored Americans will come into their own, and America will eventually become the true democracy it was designed to be. These things will become a reality in time; but not through any relaxation of the efforts to secure them. In conclusion let me say that though these questions often permeate my mind, I love America and am willing to die for the America I know will someday become a reality.

James G. Thompson

THINK: what is the main idea of James G. Thompson’s letter?

THE WAR AT HOME

FDR Leadership ! FDR proved an extremely effective wartime president ! Inspired industrialists, workers and farmers with a sense of national purpose

Industrial Growth 1939 During WWII GNP $91.3 billion 1945 " 166.6 billion Airplane production 6,000 1944 " 96,000 Tonnage of vessels 237,000 tons 1943 " 10 million tons Unemployment 9.2 % 1941 " 1%

World War II production ends the Great Depression.

The War and the Economy ! Office of War Mobilization: o Controlled and regulated rents, prices of food and wages o Goods were rationed as resources went toward the war ! National War Labor Board o Regulated wages of workers and limited strikes ! The war was financed through taxation and war bonds

The War and Women ! Rosie the Riveter: millions of women join the workforce, taking well-paying industrial jobs, thousands more join the armed forces

African Americans ! 1 million serve in the military in segregated units ! 1940-1945: 5 million move to urban areas in North and West filling industrial jobs ! Faced prejudice, discrimination and mistreatment

Japanese Internment

The attack on Pearl Harbor also launched an outbreak of fear about national security, especially on the West Coast. In February 1942, just two months after Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt as commander-in-chief, issued Executive Order 9066 which ordered the relocation of all Japanese living in the United States to internment camps. Also called relocation camps, these camps were scattered across seven western states and resembled minimum security prisons. In these internment camps, American citizens who had committed no crimes were locked behind barbed wire and crowded into ramshackle wooden barracks. The families lived on family to a room that was furnished with nothing but cots and bare light bulbs. They were forced to endure bad food, inadequate medical care, and poorly equipped schools.

Roosevelt's order affected 117,000 people of Japanese descent, two-thirds of whom were native-born citizens of the United States. The relocation made no distinction between aliens and citizens. Forced to sell their property for pennies on the dollar, most Japanese Americans suffered severe financial losses.

! What happened to the Japanese and why?

Western Defense Command and Fourth Army Wartime Civil Control Administration

Presidio of San Francisco, California April 30, 1942

INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL PERSONS OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY Living in the following area:

All that portion of the County of Los Angeles, State of California, within the boundary beginning at: ...the intersection of Western Avenue and Redondo Beach Boulevard...

Pursuant to the provisions of Civilian Exclusion Order No. 29, this Headquarters, dated April 30, 1942, all persons of Japanese Ancestry, both alien and non-alien, will be evacuated from the above area by 12 o’clock noon, PWT Thursday May 7th 1942. No Japanese persons living in the above area will be permitted to change residence after 12 o’clock noon, Thursday April 30th 1942, without obtaining special permission from the representative of the Commanding General Southern California Sector at the Civil Control Station located at: 16522 South Western Ave Torrance, CA

The following instructions must be observed:

1. A responsible member of each family, preferably the head of the family, or the person in whose name most of the property is held, and each individual living alone, will report to the Civil Control Station to receive further instructions. This must be done between 8am and 5pm on Friday May 1st 1942, or between 8am and 5pm on Saturday May 2nd, 1942. 2. Evacuees must carry with them on departure for the Assembly Center, the following property: a. Bedding and linens (no mattresses) for each family member b. Toilet articles for each member of the family c. Extra clothing for each member of the family d. Sufficient knives, forks, spoons, plates, bowls and cups for each member of the family e. Essential personal effects for each member of the family No pets of any kind will be permitted No personal items and no household goods will be shipped to the Assembly Center The United States government through its agencies will provide for storage at the sole risk of the owner of the more substantial household items, such as iceboxes, washing machines, pianos, and other heavy furniture. Cooking utensils and other small items will be accepted for storage if crated, packed, and plainly marked with the name and address of the owner. Only one name and address will be given by a family. Each family, and individual living alone, will be furnished with transportation to the Assembly Center. Private means of transportation will not be utilized.

All items carried will be securely packaged, tied, and plainly marked with the name of the owner and numbered in accordance with instructions obtained at the Civil Control Station.

The size and number of packages is limited to what which can be carried by the individual or family group.

JAPANESE INTERNMENT & KOREMATSU

MUST WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEO: JAPANESE INTERNMENT

1. How many of the evacuees were American citizens?

2. What’s the reason for the evacuation according to the video?

3. How much advance notice did Japanese receive before having to move?

4. What kind of losses did Japanese experience prior to evacuation?

5. Were there any trials or hearings to determine if the people weren’t a threat?

6. How much did the Japanese know about what was happening to them?

7. Who helped build the internment camps?

8. According to the first hand account, what reason did authorities give the Japanese for why they were being relocated and kept at camps?

9. What does Fred Korematsu argue?

10. What was the United States’ response to Korematsu’s argument?

11. What did the court rule?

12. What did Justice Murphy argue?

13. Why was going home from internment also a challenge?

KOREMATSU vs. UNITED STATES

Fred Korematsu, an American-born citizen of Japanese descent, refused to leave his home in San Leandro, California. He was arrested and convicted, and in 1944 his case reached the Supreme Court.

A 6-3 majority on the court upheld Korematsu’s conviction. The Supreme Court ruled that the detention was a “military necessity” not based on race.

Writing for the majority, Justice Hugo Black stated that it was clear that the “martial necessity arising from the danger of espionage and sabotage” warranted the military’s evacuation order. The majority found that although the exclusion of citizens from their homes is generally an impermissible use of government authority, there is an exception where there is “grave and imminent danger to the public safety” as long as there is a definition and close relationship between the government’s actions and the prevention against espionage and sabotage. The majority ruled that there was sufficient danger and a sufficient relationship between the order and the prevention of the danger to justify requiring Korematsu to evacuate. This action is justified during circumstances of "emergency and peril.” The majority said the order was valid.

THEME:

! During wartime, your rights can be limited ! “GRAVE AND IMMINENT DANGER” ! 1988: US government apologizes and pays $20,000 to those that were interned

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: ○ segregation in WWII ○ women’s roles during the war ○ how the homefront mobilized ○ Japanese internment ○ United States vs. Korematsu