The Struggles Towards Freedom

Ricardo Garcia

History 140-B

Dr. Hirshberg

November 5, 2012

The Struggles Towards Freedom

World War II became known as the "Good War" due to tremendous factors occurring in the United States at the time. December 7, 1941, was the day Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and ultimately sparked the end to isolationism for the United States. It was the start of a war that brought with it death, devastation, but despite all that it brought on a victory for the U.S. At the time of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's appointment in 1933, crucial events were underway in the U.S. that involved the peoples lives and how drastic changes would shape up and even limit their freedom, along with American participation in War. Were also able to analyze the racial segregation that took place during the war, as well as discrimination and inequality amongst different races and sexes.

Women involvement in WWII was undoubtedly a crucial factor for the U.S. being as successful as they were in the war. In Connie Fields documentary The Life and Times of Rosie in the Riverter1 truly illustrates how women filled mens jobs, entered into a life where unusual industries were beginning to exist, joined unions, and filled positions where they were now able to teach. It is needless to say that the Good War established a new perception for the role of women in U.S. society. "Nations everywhere seem to utilize gender (understood as an already racialized system of social relations) as an important weapon in their nation-building arsenals" 2

Women were now seen as a significant role model in constructing weapons to assist in the war. The general attitude, "Every man for himself"3 had taken a dramatic twist and now human cooperation was "Profound belief not only in the capacities of individual men and women, but also in the effectiveness of people helping each other"4 Both men and women were both equally appreciated for their efforts. Women not only helped in attaining jobs that men did away from work, but they too were able to enlist and be apart of the war. Their valiant efforts were not overlooked and "The sixteen million men and women who served in uniform during the war received their instruction on the nation's unifying values and wartime aims primarily from the armed forces"5 Women participated in the armed forces in significant numbers for the first time ever. Although they did not serve in combat, around 200,000 of them were apart of the war effort. The impact this had was definitely a major one. These women had now changed their outlook on life and it now gave them new experiences from ones they already had. They were able to see places they had never seen before and attained positions of greater importance that they have never had in their lives. "Some women and African Americans experienced new freedoms in the post war society, but good life after World War II was tarnished by the threat of nuclear war"6

Despite the seriousness of WWI, Roosevelt had to deal with political confrontation at a domestic level that he took on, by adopting an alternative strategy. Challenges were posed to countries' own democratic core in form of racial and other prejudices against African Americans, and Chicanos as well. Indeed racial segregation existed in the armed forces during WWII. For African Americans the turmoils they faced was took place during the war. Several politicians and military men saw them a brainless and overall useless to participate in the war effort. In several instances the African American soldiers "Proved themselves worthy and equal to their white counterpart"7, but one of their most proudest moments would have to be in 761 tank battalion. This particular unit faced 183 days of continuos employment, suffered several casualties, but ultimately proved that they were equal to whites for their grand effort in the war. Thanks to the 761 battalion, Harry S. Truman desegregated the U.S. armed forces. Another huge influence they made was making the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People go from having "50,000 members to 500,000"8 a tenfold increase. For Chicanos labor shortages affected them in a disastrous way. Due to the labor shortages the Bracero Program took affect, and cheap labor was available for them. They took up jobs as domestic and agricultural workers, but were mistreated and discriminated against. "Officials in Southern California and elsewhere repatriated thousands of Mexicans and Mexican Americans"9 Chicanos were sent back to Mexico in order to free up jobs for Americans. Both Mexican citizens of