The US entrance into World War II had a huge impact on South Carolina's economy. The state saw prosperity as industries like agriculture, textiles, and shipbuilding boomed to meet wartime demands. This created many jobs but also led to shortages of workers. As a result, more women and African Americans entered the workforce in nontraditional roles. The war also resulted in rationing of goods and recycling drives on the home front, while over 5,000 South Carolinians made the ultimate sacrifice or were wounded fighting overseas.

1. December 7December 7ThTh
19411941

2. A Costly ProsperityA Costly Prosperity
 The entrance of the United States inThe entrance of the United States in
the war had an enormous impact onthe war had an enormous impact on
the economy of South Carolina, asthe economy of South Carolina, as
well as the rest of the nation. Thewell as the rest of the nation. The
effects were felt by everyeffects were felt by every
demographic of society. It was ademographic of society. It was a
time of great prosperity and of greattime of great prosperity and of great
sacrifice.sacrifice.

3. Revitalizing the EconomyRevitalizing the Economy
 Every aspect of South Carolina’sEvery aspect of South Carolina’s
economy was impacted by the war.economy was impacted by the war.
 Due to the increased demand forDue to the increased demand for
cotton and other produce, the state’scotton and other produce, the state’s
agriculture , saw its wages moreagriculture , saw its wages more
than double.than double.

4.  Textile mills increased their laborTextile mills increased their labor
force and production in order to keepforce and production in order to keep
up with war-time production goals.up with war-time production goals.
The mills operated in three shiftsThe mills operated in three shifts
around the clock.around the clock.
 Military bases throughout the stateMilitary bases throughout the state
employed thousands of civilians.employed thousands of civilians.

5.  The Charleston Navy Yard producedThe Charleston Navy Yard produced
more than three hundred mediummore than three hundred medium
and small sized vessels and repairedand small sized vessels and repaired
numerous others.numerous others.
 As many as seventy-two thousandAs many as seventy-two thousand
workers found employment inworkers found employment in
defense-related firms. (Edgar et. aldefense-related firms. (Edgar et. al
1998, 513)1998, 513)

6. Reinventing the Roles of Men andReinventing the Roles of Men and
WomanWoman
 As the war progressed, more thanAs the war progressed, more than
180,000 South Carolinians, including180,000 South Carolinians, including
2,500 women, joined the armed2,500 women, joined the armed
services.services.
 Many people, particularly African-Many people, particularly African-
Americans, left the state and movedAmericans, left the state and moved
north in search of greaternorth in search of greater
opportunities.opportunities.

7.  All of these things created a drasticAll of these things created a drastic
reduction in rural South Carolina’sreduction in rural South Carolina’s
labor force. In order to supply thelabor force. In order to supply the
needed workers, farmers employedneeded workers, farmers employed
more women and children in themore women and children in the
fields.fields.

8.  Although urban populationsAlthough urban populations
increased, the war-time demands forincreased, the war-time demands for
production made it necessary forproduction made it necessary for
industries to employ women toindustries to employ women to
perform jobs once held by menperform jobs once held by men
alone. A woman’s place was noalone. A woman’s place was no
longer to be just in the home. (Edgarlonger to be just in the home. (Edgar
1998, 513-515)1998, 513-515)

9.  Labor shortages not only createdLabor shortages not only created
opportunities for women, they alsoopportunities for women, they also
created opportunities for African-created opportunities for African-
Americans.Americans.
 In spite of long held prejudices,In spite of long held prejudices,
necessity forced Charlestonnecessity forced Charleston
industries to accept more African-industries to accept more African-
American workers.American workers.

10.  The percentage of African-AmericansThe percentage of African-Americans
working in Charleston’s defenseworking in Charleston’s defense
industries increased from about 14industries increased from about 14
percent in 1936 to about 36 percentpercent in 1936 to about 36 percent
in 1942. (Hamer 2005, 88)(Hornein 1942. (Hamer 2005, 88)(Horne
2006, 503)2006, 503)

11.  Over a million African-AmericansOver a million African-Americans
were drafted or volunteered forwere drafted or volunteered for
military service.military service.

12. Rationing and RecyclingRationing and Recycling
 At the home front, life wasAt the home front, life was
characterized by war bonds,characterized by war bonds,
collections for relief agencies,collections for relief agencies,
rationing and numerous recyclingrationing and numerous recycling
drives.drives.

13.  . Items important to the war effort,. Items important to the war effort,
such as, gasoline, lard, tires, as wellsuch as, gasoline, lard, tires, as well
as food items like coffee, tea, andas food items like coffee, tea, and
sugar were rationed.sugar were rationed.

14.  Money was collected for the NationalMoney was collected for the National
War Fund, a relief agency providingWar Fund, a relief agency providing
entertainment for the troops, food,entertainment for the troops, food,
clothing, and medical aid for war tornclothing, and medical aid for war torn
countries and war prisoners.countries and war prisoners.
 Recycling drives for cooking oil,Recycling drives for cooking oil,
rubber, paper, and various metalsrubber, paper, and various metals
were common.were common.

15.  The war brought prosperity to SouthThe war brought prosperity to South
Carolina, but it didn’t come withoutCarolina, but it didn’t come without
sacrifice. South Carolina had oversacrifice. South Carolina had over
5000 fatal casualties during the war.5000 fatal casualties during the war.
The sacrifices made by these braveThe sacrifices made by these brave
men and women makes all the othermen and women makes all the other
sacrifices pale in comparison.sacrifices pale in comparison.
Thousands more were wounded andThousands more were wounded and
maimed.maimed.

16.  Edgar, Walter.Edgar, Walter. South Carolina ASouth Carolina A
HistoryHistory. Columbia, S.C.: University of. Columbia, S.C.: University of
South Carolina Press, 1998.South Carolina Press, 1998.
 Hamer, Fritz P.Hamer, Fritz P. Charleston RebornCharleston Reborn,,
Charleston, S.C.: The History Press,Charleston, S.C.: The History Press,
2005.2005.