WORLD WAR II’S IMPACT
ON AMERICA
UNIT 8
AMERICA’S ECONOMY

Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce
resources, goods, or services usually practiced at times
of war.

Ration Stamps were used during World War II. These were
redeemable stamps or coupons. Every family was issued a set
number of each kind of stamp based on the size of the family, ages
of children, and income.
JAPANESE-AMERICANS

The U.S. government ordered the removal of
Japanese-American citizens in 1942 after the
attack on Pearl Harbor.

FDR issued Executive Order 9066 to relocate
any citizen of Japanese decent into
Internment Camps or War Relocation Camps.
Around 110,000 Japanese-American citizens
were relocated during World War II.

Korematsu v. United States, (1944)
A landmark United States Supreme Court case
concerning the constitutionality of Executive
Order 9066, which ordered Japanese
Americans into internment camps during World
War II regardless of citizenship.
In a 6–3 decision, the Court sided with the
government, ruling that the exclusion order
was constitutional.
AFRICAN-AMERICANS

The Double V program was started by
the Pittsburgh Courier, which was a
newspaper for African Americans. It
emphasized fighting for two goals -victory over our enemies in the war
and victory over the enemies of
black people at home.
President Truman issued EXECUTIVE
ORDER 9981 to desegregate the
military in 1948.
 This will be the first act of
integration and will cause AfricanAmericans to demand integration in
all aspects of society.

MEXICAN-AMERICANS

Zoot suits were common
attire amongst the MexicanAmerican population.

Tension was rising
between Anglo-Military
personnel and MexicanAmericans in Los Angeles,
California after the
Sleepy Lagoon Murder
trial where a young
Latino boy was killed.

The ZOOT-SUIT RIOTS
took place in 1943 mainly
in California.
WOMEN

During the War, men were enlisting in the military
allowing for many jobs to open. Women began
taking on traditional-male jobs involving heavy
machinery.

ROSIE THE RIVETER became an
iconic propaganda poster during
World War II, which supported
females working in these “male”
jobs.

After the war was over, many
women returned home to allow the
men to get their jobs back. This
resulted in the “baby boom”, a
major influx in the birth rate.
AMERICAN SOLDIERS & VETERANS

Previously, returning soldiers did not receive
any benefits and struggled to find jobs.

In 1945, the GI-BILL was passed to
help returning soldiers. Benefits
included low-cost mortgages, lowinterest loans to start a business,
cash payments of tuition and living
expenses to attend
university, high
school or vocational education, as
well as one year of unemployment
compensation.
EXIT TICKET

1. Which American groups were effected in a negative way
during World War 2? Justify your answer. Why or how was the
effect negative?

2. Which American groups were effected in a positive way
during World War 2? Justify your answer. Why or how was the
effect positive?