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Difficulty: MediumWorld War II: Mobilization and Social Impact

“We, as colored Americans, are demanding double victory. . . . The first V is for victory over our enemies from without and the second V is for victory over our enemies from within. For we know that without victory at home, there can be no lasting peace or democracy abroad.”

— Editorial, *Pittsburgh Courier*, February 7, 1942

Which of the following best describes the historical context that prompted the campaign described in the excerpt?

  1. A
    New Deal programs had successfully eliminated economic discrimination, allowing civil rights organizations to focus exclusively on support for military actions abroad.
  2. African Americans faced systemic segregation within the military and widespread discrimination in hiring practices within defense-contracted industries.Answer
  3. C
    Civil rights leaders reached a consensus to suspend all domestic protests and labor demands in order to prioritize national wartime unity.
  4. D
    The federal government enforced strict diplomatic isolationism, preventing minority groups from aligning their struggles with global anti-colonial movements.

Answer

African Americans faced systemic segregation within the military and widespread discrimination in hiring practices within defense-contracted industries.
The 'Double V' campaign was prompted by the contradiction of fighting for freedom abroad while experiencing segregation in the military and discrimination in defense industry hiring at home. This push for democracy on two fronts defined the African American home-front experience during World War II.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the source and the campaign described.
The excerpt introduces the 'Double V' campaign launched by the African American newspaper Pittsburgh Courier in early 1942.
Understanding the origins of the campaign helps contextualize the social environment of the home front during the war.
2
Analyze the goals of the campaign.
The campaign demanded a two-front victory: victory over fascism abroad and victory over racism and discrimination at home.
This highlights the tension between the national rhetoric of defending democracy and the domestic reality of racial inequality.
3
Connect the campaign to the wartime mobilization context.
During World War II, African American servicemen were placed in segregated units, and Black workers faced hiring discrimination in newly booming defense industries, prompting organized resistance and campaigns like the Double V.
This matches the correct historical context of mobilization and its social impact on minority groups.

Key Concept

The Double V campaign and the impact of World War II mobilization on African American civil rights activism.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

World War II: Mobilization and Social Impact

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