PEOPLE

John L. DeWitt

. American military commander during World War II

. Organized internment of Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor

. In May 1942, issued order to create military areas in the West for the detainment of all Japanese-Americans

Joe Lewis

. African-American boxer nicknamed "The Brown Bomber"

. In June 1938, knocked out German boxer Max Schmeling

. American press cast Lewis as defender of democracy in Schmeling fight; blacks saw result as racial vindication

. Forced to serve in an all-black Jim Crow regiment when he joined the army

Gunnar Myrdal

. Swedish social scientist who published An American Dilemma, 1944

. Used hundreds of interviews, statistics, and other data to describe growing conflict between American racial policies and American notion of justice for all

. Predicted that World War II would be a catalyst for change in U.S. racial relations

A. Philip Randolph

. Leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

. Proposed March on Washington in 1941 to protest racial discrimination in war industries and in the military

. Cancelled the March when President Franklin Roosevelt agreed to sign Executive Order 8802

Norman Rockwell

. Artist best known for paintings of American life that appeared in The Saturday Evening Post

. In May 1943, painting iconic image of "Rosie the Riveter," clad in blue workshirt and denim coveralls with a welder's face mask atop her head

Franklin D. Roosevelt

. Democratic President, first elected in 1932 during the Great Depression

. Reelected in 1936, 1940, and 1944; died in office in 1945

. Served as President for all but 4 months of World War II

Max Schmeling

. German boxer who fought African-American boxer Joe Louis twice in the 1930s

. First defeated Louis in 1936, then lost in 1938 rematch

. American press cast him as a Nazi villain, but he never officially pledged support for the Nazi regime

Harry S. Truman

. Democratic Vice President under President Franklin D. Roosevelt

. Became President after Roosevelt's death in April 1945, during last months of war

. Under his command, U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan

. Unpopular President in his own time; better regarded by historians today

EVENTS

1940 Selective Training and Service Act

. Made all American men between ages of 18 and 45 eligible for military draft

. Signed by President Franklin Roosevelt 1.5 years before the U.S. entered World War II

1941 Executive Order 8802

. Issued by President Franklin Roosevelt before U.S. entered WWII

. Result of pressure from black civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph

. Banned racial discrimination in defense industries; increased job opportunities for minorities, especially blacks

1941 Pearl Harbor

. Japanese surprise attack against U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 7 December

. Attack killed thousands and destroyed much of U.S. Pacific fleet

. One day after attack, U.S. declared war on Japan, then Germany and Italy (allied with Japan) declared war on U.S.

1942 Executive Order 9066

. Issued by President Roosevelt two months after Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

. Allowed forced internment of thousands of Japanese-Americans

. Gave U.S. military power to decide who should be removed from areas deemed vulnerable to enemy attack

. By summer of 1942, whole communities were forced to move to internment camps

1943 Zoot Suit Riots

. Race riot in Los Angeles County lasted a week

. Triggered by sensational reports of gang violence and the "zoot-suiter menace"

. Servicemen, police, and civilians attacked those wearing zoot suits; most of those attacked were Mexican-American men, but some women, blacks and Filipinos also targeted

. Rioting ended when California's Attorney General and Governor established a curfew, blocked entrance into the city, and banned zoot suits

GROUPS

U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence

. After Pearl Harbor, identified people who posed a threat to national security

. Recommended internment of thousands of people during WWII, including Japanese, Italian, and German Americans

U.S. Office of War Information

. Government propaganda organization

. Helped orchestrate recruitment campaign to bring women into war industries

. Promoted the "Rosie the Riveter" image

CONCEPTS

Allied Powers

. During World War II, the alliance of nations that fought against the Axis powers

. Included Great Britain, the Soviet Union, the U.S., and China

. Also included France before it was defeated and occupied by Germany in 1940

Axis Powers

. During World War II, the alliance of fascist nations that fought against the Allied powers

. Included Germany, Italy, and Japan

Internment

. Confinement or imprisonment, without trial, of people thought to pose a threat to the country in some way

. Those interned were confined to one place, monitored, and prevented from communicating with others outside of the location

. During WWII, U.S. interned Japanese and Americans of Japanese descent

New Deal

. Set of experimental government programs enacted in response to Great Depression

. Instituted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s

. Did transform the nation in significant ways

. Did not succeed in ending the Great Depression

Rosie the Riveter

. Popular WWII-era image of female war-plant laborer

. Cultural icon during the war, popularized by government propaganda and the popular press

. Often depicted as clad in denim and with muscles, but still feminine

. Helped inspire American women to seek jobs in factories, plants, and shipyards

Zoot Suit

. Clothing style popular among black and Latino youth in the 1930s and 1940s

. Characterized by high-waisted, loose-fitting pants, a long wide-shouldered coat, and a wide-rimmed felt hat

. The 1940s press associated the style with youth crime

PLACES

Los Angeles, California

. Site of "Zoot Suit Riots," in which U.S. servicemen on shore leave attacked Mexican-American youths wearing flamboyant zoot suit attire, 1943

Manzanar, California

. Remote location in the California desert of the first of ten large Japanese internment camps to be built in U.S. during WWII

. Housed 10,000 Japanese and Japanese-American prisoners

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

. Location of primary naval base of U.S. Pacific fleet

. Suffered devastating surprise attack by Japanese aircraft, 7 December 1941