Welcome to the WWII Forums! Log in or Sign up to interact with the community.

WW2 effects: Mississippi

Discussion in 'WWII Today' started by JJWilson, Mar 23, 2018.

  1. JJWilson

    JJWilson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2017
    Messages:
    1,411
    Likes Received:
    456
    Location:
    Arizona U.S.A
    Hello Everyone, once again I am sorry for being late with this weeks WW2 effects. I've been pretty busy with school and work lately, but I've got time to bring you Mississippi's story of WW2. Previous WW2 Effects: New York WW2 effects: New York

    Mississippi Pre-WW2
    80 years after the Civil War, Mississippi hadn't changed all that much from the time the country was divided and at war. Segregation was a part of daily life, poverty and unemployment, made worse from the Depression, was high, and agriculture was desperately trying to keep the state standing economically. Tens of Thousands of Mississippian's left the state in the 20's and 30's, and the state had an extremely difficult time modernizing and bringing industry to the state. One of the most agriculturally dependent states in the U.S in the 30's and 40's, Mississippi was at a loss for how to better the worsening economic situation. The state was still divided because of race-relations, and this ever present divide would carry into WW2, and take on a whole new chapter in the struggle for Civil Rights. It would take a World War, and a miracle of sorts, for things to get better in the suffering Southern state.

    Mississippi WW2
    With WW2 beginning for the U.S in December of 1941, Mississippi was ready for the challenge ahead, with more than 36 Military bases and installations built from 1940 to 1942, Mississippi would be home to over 1 million servicemen for training and exercises. The cities and towns of Jackson, Biloxi, and Vicksburg were the biggest industrial centers of the state, and made everything from 30-06 ammunition, to flying gloves. Ingalls shipbuilding company produced hundreds of liberty ships, while Jackson car factories made Jeeps. Jobs were now readily available for all, and for the first time in Mississippi's long history, Agriculture wasn't at the center of their success. Many factories were integrated with White men, Black men, and women, this caused a shift in Mississippi's social structure, and ultimately would help kindle the Civil Rights movement that would take place soon thereafter.

    Mississippi Post WW2
    3.555 Mississippians were killed in WW2, and more than 150,000 served from 1941 to 1945. Mississippi came out of WW2 a totally different state, having a solid Industrial base to build off of, and a lowered unemployment and poverty rate. Unfortunately, Mississippi ranked last in unemployment and poverty among the 48 states after WW2, and would continue to struggle with it for decades, and still does today. While Mississippi still has it's fair share of struggles both socially and economically, it is in a better place today than it ever has been.


    [​IMG]
    Jackson, 1941
    [​IMG]
    Troops in a training camp, somewhere near Vicksburg 1942
    [​IMG]
    A Liberty ship made by Ingalls Shipbuilding 1943
    [​IMG]
    Jackson Mississippi today
     

Share This Page