The Role of Women and African Americans in WWI

IB 20th Century Topics

Opportunities for Opportunities for African-Americans in African-Americans in WW1WW1

Opportunities for Opportunities for African-Americans in African-Americans in WW1WW1

e ““Great Migration.”Great Migration.” 1916 – 1919 1916 – 1919 500,000 500,000

e War industries work.War industries work.

e Enlistment in segregated Enlistment in segregated units.units.

WW I: The Great Migration

Demographics…Great Migration of Blacks from South to the Northern US (Race Riots 1917-19)

The Great Migration The war opened thousands of industrial jobs to

black laborer 500,000 migrated north increased presence and demands for change

Dozens of blacks were killed during a 1917 riot in East St. Louis, Illinois

African Americans and WWI

Black leaders saw the war as an opportunity for advancement

World War I did not bring significant gains navy barred blacks, army segregated

Also riots and lynching increased in the South Violence led to a silent march of protest on NY

5th Ave – “Mr. President, Why Not Make America Safe for Democracy?”

Chicago Race Riot, 1919

Because of industrial jobs available in WWI, the African-American population in Chicago increased from 44,000 to 109,000, for a total of 148 percent during 1916-1919.

The postwar period found tensions rising in numerous cities where populations were increasing rapidly

The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 was a major racial conflict that began in Chicago, Illinois on July 27, 1919 and ended on August 3.

During the riot, dozens died and hundreds were injured. It is considered the worst of the approximately 25 riots

during the Red Summer of 1919, so named because of the violence and fatalities across the nation

““Rescuing a Negro During Rescuing a Negro During the Race Riots in the Race Riots in Chicago”, 1919Chicago”, 1919

““Rescuing a Negro During Rescuing a Negro During the Race Riots in the Race Riots in Chicago”, 1919Chicago”, 1919

WWI: African Americans Many were forced to work behind the

lines jobs The 369th Harlem Hellfighters fought with

the French The 369th Infantry Regiment was known for being the first

African American Regiment during WWI During the war the 369th's regimental band (under the direction

of James Reese) became famous throughout Europe, being the first to introduce the until-then unknown music called jazz to British, French and other audiences, and starting a worldwide demand for it

US Troops were segregated black and white

True Sons of True Sons of FreedomFreedomTrue Sons of True Sons of FreedomFreedom

Women’s Service in WWI Held Home Front jobs

RR Workers, cooks, bricklayers, dock workers, coal miners, clerks, teachers, and helped to sell liberty bonds

• Warfront Jobs of Women

Red Cross Nurses

Radio operators

Ambulance drivers

YWCA – The Blue YWCA – The Blue TriangleTriangleYWCA – The Blue YWCA – The Blue TriangleTriangle

Munitions WorkMunitions WorkMunitions WorkMunitions Work

Women Used In Women Used In RecruitmentRecruitmentWomen Used In Women Used In RecruitmentRecruitment

The Red Cross - Greatest The Red Cross - Greatest

Mother in the WorldMother in the World

The Red Cross - Greatest The Red Cross - Greatest

Mother in the WorldMother in the World

WW I: Suffrage-The Women’s Movement…

National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA) Carrie Chapman Catt

National Women’s Party –Alice Paul

Women’s Suffrage America’s entry into the war threatened to

tear apart the suffrage movementJeannette Rankin opposed war first

woman member of congresswomen in general supported the war

The National Woman’s Party was militantly fighting for suffrageAlice Paul compared Wilson to the

Kaiser denying democracy, chained herself to white house fence, force fed in prison

Women’s Suffrage

The combined efforts of women during the war won them suffrage –Wilson finally gave in January 1918 Wilson withdrew his opposition

to female suffrage amendment Took until Aug 1920 to have the

amendment ratified 72 years after goal of women’s suffrage

declared at Seneca Falls in 1848

New faces in the Workforce

Mexicans crossed the borders for industrial jobs in southwestern cities (100,000)

Women joined workforce in record numbers (one million)

Most people believed this would be a temporary change

World War I

Just as women used their participation in the war effort to fight for their rights, African Americans also hoped to use the war to improve their status. Leaders like W. E. B. Du Bois and the NAACP officials protested strongly when initial mobilization plans did not include African Americans.

A unit of the Women's Defense League drills in its camp at Washington, D.C. Although some in the women's suffrage movement refused to support the war effort until women were granted the right to vote, other suffragists took a role in mobilizing women into the war effort and used women's support as an argument in favor of their enfranchisement.

How did the war affect the U.S.? Women

•Women filled factory jobs

•Women’s war effort helped bring about passage of the 19th Amendment after the war giving women the right to vote.

•Black soldiers still served in segregated units.

African Americans

•In the “Great Migration” thousands of African Americans moved to the North to work in factories.