Civil Rights during World War II
Analyze the role played by individuals in the war effort, including the involvement of
women and minority groups in home front and overseas activities.
Japanese Americans (example)
Historical Information To what extent were their rights expanded or contracted
during World War II?
Executive Order 9066
● All persons of Japanese ancestry living in a
100-mile wide zone along the West Coast were
moved to “relocation centers” for the Unfortunately, Japanese Americans did not experience an expansion of rights.
remainder of the war. Due to discrimination and racism, Japanese Americans were targeted by the
Korematsu v. United States government and forced to sacrifice their constitutional rights in the name of
● Japanese American Fred Korematsu refused to national security. Almost 50 years later, Congress would apologize and
relocate and challenged his conviction. The compensate the survivors.
Supreme Court ruled in favor of the
government in the name of national security.
Historical Image Make a connection to previous units.
I think this is similar to how German-Americans faced discimination during
World War I.
It also reminds me of the Dawes Act where Native American children were
sent to assimilation schools.
Civil Rights during World War II
Analyze the role played by individuals in the war effort, including the involvement of
women and minority groups in home front and overseas activities.
Women in America
Historical Information To what extent were their rights expanded or contracted
War Production during World War II?
● Men entered the armed services, leaving women
to meet the demand for factory workers. This
included women of various ages and marital status,
marking a significant change in lifestyle for many
women who typically served the role of
homemaker.
The Armed Forces
● For the first time, women were permitted to enlist,
though they didn’t serve in combat. They served in
The Women’s Army Corps (WACs), the Navy’s
Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service
(WAVES), and the Army Nurse Corps.
Historical Image Make a connection to previous units.
Civil Rights during World War II
Analyze the role played by individuals in the war effort, including the involvement of
women and minority groups in home front and overseas activities.
African Americans
Historical Information To what extent were their rights expanded or contracted
Tuskegee Airmen during World War II?
● Segregated unit of fighter pilots.
Executive Order 8802
● FDR negotiated with civil rights leaders who
were ready to March on Washington. He
banned discrimination in hiring practices by
any federal agency or any company receiving a
federal government contract, enforced by the
Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEMP).
Double V Campaign
● “Victory at home, victory abroad,” meaning
fighting against racism abroad and at home.
Historical Image Make a connection to previous units.
Civil Rights during World War II
Analyze the role played by individuals in the war effort, including the involvement of
women and minority groups in home front and overseas activities.
Hispanic Americans
Historical Information To what extent were their rights expanded or contracted
Bracero Program during World War II?
● Congress passed the “Mexican Labor Supply
Program” to encourage 200,000+ workers from
Latin America to work as “braceros” on farms and
in factories to support the war effort. The workers
were not protected by U.S. labor laws.
Zoot Suit Riots
● Though Hispanic Americans served in the armed
forces, they faced discrimination from sailors and
soldiers, specifically during an incident in Los
Angeles where they were identified by their “zoot
suits” and attacked.
Historical Image Make a connection.
Civil Rights during World War II
Analyze the role played by individuals in the war effort, including the involvement of
women and minority groups in home front and overseas activities.
Native Americans
Historical Information To what extent were their rights expanded or contracted
during World War II?
Navajo Code Talkers
● Played a critical role in the war due to their
unique languages. They served by using the
Navajo language to form secret codes in the
Pacific campaign that Japanese code breakers
could not decipher.
Historical Image Make a connection.
Civil Rights during World War II
Analyze the role played by individuals in the war effort, including the involvement of
women and minority groups in home front and overseas activities.
Jewish Americans and Refugees
Historical Information To what extent were their rights expanded or contracted
during World War II?
The Armed Forces
● Over 500,000 Jewish Americans entered the
armed forces.
Holocaust Refugees
● Federal law severely restricted immigration
and made no specific exception for refugees.
Congress failed to pass a bill that would admit
20,000 additional German Jewish children.
Refugees aboard the SS St. Louis were denied
entry to Cuba, the United States (Florida), and
Canada before returning to Germany.
Historical Image Make a connection.
