Confidence and Crises, 1920-1948

World War II Key Ideas 1. From the home front to the warfront, women were critical participants in World War II. 2. War work and military service provided women with new opportunities and improved access to higher pay and skills training. 3. The federal government provided opportunities for women of color to participate in the military and war work facilities, although those experiences did not always guarantee racial equality in the workplace. 4. America struggled to guarantee freedom and equality at home while promoting these ideals overseas. Introduction Lawrence Wilbur; U.S. Government Printing Office, Longing Won’t Bring him back sooner… Get A War Job! See your U.S. Employment Service. War Manpower Commission. 1944. New-York Historical Society Library. World War II As soon as America entered World War II,

The Great Depression Key Ideas 1. All Americans felt the impact of the Great Depression. 2. Both society and the federal government placed greater value on women’s role in the home during the Depression. 3. Women actively participated in growing bureaucracies, holding leadership positions at the highest levels of government. 4. From managing the home to organizing protests, women worked tirelessly throughout the Depression to ensure daily life continued and Americans received their fair share. Introduction Workers Alliance leader Emma Tenayuca speaking to crowd outside San Antonio City Hall, March 8, 1937. Courtesy, UTSA Special Collections. The Great Depression If the Jazz Age propelled American women into the modern world, the Great Depression was a retreat back into the home. The 1920s offered women the opportunity to celebrate