Chapter 12 Lesson 1
Wartime America
Minorities in World War II
• African Americans in the Military
– African Americans who enlisted had separate training
facilities. White officers commanded their units. Most
African American soldiers were assigned to noncombat
units.
• The Tuskegee Airmen
– The Tuskegee Airmen was comprised of African
American volunteers.
Minorities in World War II
• Japanese Americans
– The 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Infantry
Battalion were comprised of Japanese American citizen
volunteers. Their family members were confined to
internment camps.
• Hispanic Americans
– Many Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans served both on
the front lines and in support services.
• Native Americans
– More than 30 percent of all eligible Native Americans saw
battle. Native Americans were regarded as fierce warriors
and, unlike other minorities, were welcomed on the front
lines.
Minorities in World War II
• Jewish Americans
– About 500,000 Jewish American served during World
War II.
• Women
– Women were limited to clerical duties assigned to the
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). In 1943 the
Women’s Army Corps (WAC) became part of the regular
army, but women could still not serve in combat roles.
Women in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)
were allowed to deliver planes to different locations.
Output of Military Products
• War Production
– War production increased as the government turned
many peace-time factories over to the production of war
equipment and materials.
• Cost Plus
– The cost-plus system gave businesses monetary
incentives to produce military goods quickly.
The Real Rosie
• Women Workers
– The government hired millions of women for clerical
work during the war.
• Factory Workers
– War mobilization brought many women into factory jobs
usually done by men and changed the perception of
women as workers. “Rosie the Riveter” became the
iconic image from that period.