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War Begins...(again)
Hitler invaded Poland and took control so France and Britain declared War on Germany -
Executive Order 8802
Stated there will be no discrimination based on "race, creed, color or national origin" in the employment fields so African Americans could secure jobs and join the military forces and Roosevelt enforced this order through the Fair Employment Practices Commission -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor claiming the lives of more than 2,300 troops and even more civilians. This unified the public opinion of joining the war -
The United States declares war on Japan
After the attack on Pearl Harbor Congress voted to declare war on Japan with only one vote for "No".
The US had now joined the war we were trying to stay away from. -
American Industries and War Production
Over 200,000 company's and most major industries converted to war production and made the nation's wartime "miracle" possible. -
Congress allowed women into the Armed Forces
Women were now aloud to join the Armed Forces but were barred from combat positions and took administrative and clerical positions to free men for combat positions -
Executive Order 9066
Roosevelt signed another Executive Order stating that the military could declare any part of the United States a military zone and evacuate it -
Zoot-suiters cause attacks in LA
2,500 soldiers and sailors attacked Mexican American neighborhoods in Los Angeles after hearing rumors of "zoot-suiters" (zoot suits are baggy pants and knee length jackets popular with Mexican American teens) attacking sailors -
Racial violence breaks out in Detroit
Fights between white and African American teens triggered by citywide riots that killed 25 African Americans and 9 whites -
MacArthur accepts Japan's surrender
General Douglas MacArthur accepts Japan's formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay