Life After Panama

Contributed by Christian Conyers

           Immigrants come to America and to other countries from all kinds of areas such as Italy, Spain, Africa and Central America. In 2012, a total of 640 million people wanted to immigrate to another county. Out of those people, 150 million wanted to move to the United States. During the 1960s and 1970s, Panamanians were the majority of Central Americans that immigrated to America. The number of Panamanians immigrating to American decreased over time.

            Below is a video of Esmene Hampton, a former resident of Panama, who has moved to America for a better life.  Click here Interview or go to

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8tMwk84aH27WGdiVGR4d19UT0k/edit?usp=sharing

For more information on immigration, see the following sources:

"Immigration." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Vol. 1:
1900-1909. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 11
Feb. 2013.

"Immigration." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Vol. 2:
1910-1919. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 11
Feb. 2013.

"Immigration." U*X*L Encyclopedia of U.S. History. Sonia Benson, Daniel
E. Brannen, Jr., and Rebecca Valentine. Ed. Lawrence W. Baker and Sarah
Hermsen. Vol. 4. Detroit: UXL, 2009. 742-748. Gale Virtual Reference
Library. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

"Immigration." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed.
William A. Darity, Jr. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA,
2008. 581-583. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

JOHNSON, PHYLLIS J. "Immigration." International Encyclopedia of
Marriage and Family. Ed. James J. Ponzetti. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. New York:
Macmillan Reference USA, 2003. 859-864. Gale Virtual Reference
Library. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

The Civil War in El Salvador

Contributed by Lila Majano

The Civil War in El Salvador lasted 12 years. It was officially started in 1980 and ended in 1992. There was no designated war area and thousands of innocent civilians were killed without reason. The Civil War was between the military government and the nation’s poor people who wanted political representation and economic stability. The military government had many national guards and police that would mistreat the poorer civilians. The guerrilla fighters were civilians who decided to fight against the government for equality and were led by Farabundo Martí  of the National Liberation Front. Many reforms followed the war, improving the economy and restoring the nation’s humanity as well as peace.

For more information on the Civil War in El Salvador, see:
 

Arnson, Cynthia J. "El Salvador." Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity. Ed. Dinah L. Shelton. Vol. 1. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 282-286. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Document URLhttp://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3434600112&v=2.1&u=uchs_ca&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w

"El Salvador." Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2008. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 625-635. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Document URL

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2895900067&v=2.1&u=uchs_ca&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w

Mazor, John. "El Salvador." Worldmark Encyclopedia of National Economies. Ed. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. Vol. 2: Americas. Detroit: Gale, 2002. 171-180. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Document URL

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3410100087&v=2.1&u=uchs_ca&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w

"El Salvador." Gale Encyclopedia of World History: Governments. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Document URLhttp://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3048600099&v=2.1&u=uchs_ca&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w

"El Salvador." Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations. Ed. Timothy L. Gall and Jeneen M. Hobby. 12th ed. Vol. 3: Americas. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 245-259. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Document URLhttp://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2586700156&v=2.1&u=uchs_ca&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w

Interview 

Below is the interview of Teofilo Majano.  Mr. Majano speaks about the Civil War.  He talks about his first-hand experience of the war. He is married with three children and lives in Rahway, NJ.

Interview of Teofilo Majano

or go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOCgx7MH4GA&list=HL1362718013&feature=mh_lolz

 

The Journey to America

Contributed  by Katie Brown

In September 1939, German leader Adolf Hitler instigated the war by invading Poland. From then on, Poland suffered significantly and every social class was impacted. Western Poland took a major hit when Germany established a colonial government in hopes of trying to wipe out the Polish nationality in general. Millions of Poles were removed from their homes and German settlers moved into the homes to create a new German empire. Other Poles were forced into labor camps, similar to concentration camps for the Jews, where average people and prisoners of war worked day in and day out. Jews of course were affected by the Holocaust and sent away to concentration camps mostly on Polish soil. Devastating camps like Auschwitz, Majdanek, and Treblinka killed close to 3 million Polish Jews on their very own soil. The Poles who weren't in concentration camps, labor camps, or removed from their homes succumbed to German rule in a different way and lost opportunities for schooling, jobs, and more. Many people did try to fight Hitler and the Germans back, but of course, they did not succeed.

After the war, Poland slowly got up on its feet but continued to struggle until present day. Many rural areas are still in shambles from German invasion from decades ago and have terrible living conditions. Many Poles yearned to immigrate elsewhere but it was extremely hard to maintain a farm let alone move to America. The 1960s brought forth immigration reform in the United States. Previously, a quota system was in place permitting only certain immigrants to come into the country legally. The Hart-Cellar Act abolished this system and attracted skilled workers to the US. Many people from all over Europe were attracted to the idea of living out the “American Dream” and came to this country. Though immigrant conditions were awful, in most cases the immigrants definitely were a whole lot better here than in their motherland. America had new additions to its melting pot.
 

 Additional Resources

 Heubeck, Meg. "The Polish Experience During World War II." University of Virginia,
 "Poland - World War II." Poland - World War II. US Library of Congress
 Sadi-Nakar, Merav. "Welfare and Immigration Policies During the 1960s." University of Los Angeles,
 "U.S. Immigration Since 1965." History.com. A&E Television Networks
 "WW II: Behind Closed Doors." PBS. PBS

Interview

The link bellow is an interview with Donna (Dabrowski) Brown, a Polish Immigrant whose family was severely impacted by World War II and inevitably came to America in hopes of pursuing "The American Dream". Headphones are suggested when viewing the video.

Click Here!

Life as a Soldier in World War II

Contributed by Robert Schmicker

Life as a soldier during WWII was no treat.  It involved several demanding tedious tasks and constant movement.  The living quarters were sparse.  Soldiers dug or used existing craters to build a bunker and lived out of the bunker for months at a time.  The bunkers was often times hot, smelly, and wet during the summer and in the winter, the bunkers were cold and damp.  Showers were few and far between.  Food was also not five star quality.  As a soldier, one would eat endless upon endless cans of food, often times canned meat and vegetables -- mostly beans with a biscuit.  Soldiers were lucky to be filled up due to having to evenly distribute the food amongst all of the soldiers.

Uniforms were not adequately suited for the winter months and many soldiers froze to death.  Ammunition and food took priority over clothing, so many had to either adapt or improvise with their uniforms to survive.  Many who were drafted served for 2 to 4 years and if a soldier was a ground soldier, the soldier did not come home until it was completely over.  The life of a soldier was nothing shy of hell.  This is one reason why the veterans of WWII are amongst the most respected of all veterans.  

For more information on life during WWII, see:  

American Life During World War II The National WWII Museum. "PRIMARY SOURCES: WAR BONDS." The National WWII Museum. N.p., 2003. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Robinson, Heather E. "Children on the Home Front." The Gilder Lehrman Institute

of American History. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, 2009. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Cohen, Stan, and Clark Reynolds. "Rationing on the US Homefront during WW

II." Rationing on the US Homefront during WW II. Ames Historical Society, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

History. "The U.S. Home Front During World War II." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 1996. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

University of California. "Everyday Life During World War II." Calisphere. University of California, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Interview:
Below is an interview of Harry Cochran, 92 years old.  Mr. Cochran is a veteran of WWII and fought in WWII when he was 22 years old.  Among other things, Mr. Cochran participated in the famed Battle of the Bulge.

Life In America During WWII

Life in America During WWII

Contributed by Joseph Perona
           World War II had a huge impact on the lives of American citizens.  The great demand for manufactured war goods created opportunities for American citizens.  This demand led the United States out of the Great Depression as people went to work in factories and began to improve the economy.  The war also created opportunities for many women to begin working.

            In this improved economy, there was more money for people to spend; however, due to the war, people could not simply go to a store and buy as much of something as they wanted.   Rationing was in effect due to the shortages during the war.  Rationing was the only way to make sure everyone got their fair share during the shortage.  Commonly rationed goods were gasoline, tires, sugar, meat, silk, shoes, and nylon.  Each family was given a ration book which contained ration stamps.  You would then use these ration stamps to buy things in stores.  These stamps did not take the place of money.  You still had to pay for the items, but would not be allowed to buy them without the stamps.  Each stamp had a number on it designating the points it was worth as well as a letter showing which rationing period the stamp could be used. Each rationed product had a point value assigned to it.  You would then give the amount of ration stamps that the rationed products you were buying were worth.

Interview. 
Below is an interview of my grandmother: Joanne Croteau
Q: How old were you and where did you live during WWII?
A: I was born in 1938, so I was very young during WWII.  During the war I lived in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Q: Were you aware of the war and what was going on?
A:  No, my mother shielded me from much of what was happening.  Information was not as easily available at the time.  We just lived our lives normally, although there were a few differences.

Q: What were some changes to your daily life during the war?
A:  During WWII, I remember there were black outs.  All of the houses had black curtains, and if the alarm went off we were required to close all the curtains and hide.  This actually occurred quite often, however, it was only done as a precaution in case there was a real problem.  During these black outs I remember being scared and confused.

Q: How did rationing affect your life?  Did your family have a rations book?  What do you remember buying with the ration book?
A: I remember my mother kept our ration book.  This rationing effected us because due to the shortages we had to make many things on our own.  A few things I specifically remember being rationed were gas, flour, and butter.  In order to get butter, we would use Oleo Margarine as a substitute.  I remember buying a bag with lard and a yellow part in the middle.  I would break the yellow part and then knead the bag until it was uniform throughout.  The final product was an equivalent to butter.

Q: Did you do anything to help out in the war effort?
A: During the war, the women would try to help out the best they could.  My mother along with other women, would knit socks, hats, and other clothes and give them to the Church.  I remember learning how to knit at a very young age because of the war.  I would make my own gloves, hats, and scarfs, along with other items.  I would also knit in order to donate to the Church.  This was my way and other women at the time's way of helping out.

For more information on World War II, see:

"History." Enotes.com. Enotes.com, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. <http://www.enotes.com/history/discuss/what-was-wars-impact-america-american-life-du-96088>.

"The Impact of World War II." The Impact of World War II. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. <http://middle.usmk12.org/Faculty/taft/Unit7/wwii_legacy.htm>.

"Rationing During World War II." Rationing During World War II. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. <http://www.waverlyinfo.com/page/3282/Ww-Ii-Memorabilia>.

"Rationing on the US Homefront during WW II." Rationing on the US Homefront during WW II. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. <http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/events/rationing.htm>.

"World War II Rationing." World War II Rationing. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1674.html>.

20th Century Feminism

Contributed by Raeann Dalton, Grade 11

In the 1950s, suburban communities were booming. The GI Bill allowed many young couples to buys homes, and this post WWII era led to the baby boom. New forms of media such as television broadcasted shows like Leave it to Beaver, which portrayed specific gender roles. During this era, women were expected to be “good wives”. Good wives always had dinner ready, looked fresh and tidy for their husbands, and rid their houses of clutter. Ideally, most women wanted to have a beautiful house and husband and many children.

However, many women felt stifled and unsatisfied. They escaped this by participating in politics, and also by getting jobs. Slowly but surely the employment rate of women increased. Also, the use of contraception was growing so that by the end of the sixties, more than 80% of women were using birth control. Gradually, America came to accept some of the basic goals of Sixties feminists: equal pay for equal work, an end to domestic violence and sexual harassment, and the sharing of responsibility for housework and child rearing. Female leaders included Oprah Winfrey, Madeleine Albright, and Sandra Day O’Connor.

By the 70s, women’s lives were being impacted by the Vietnam War. Even though they weren’t being drafted, their husbands and boyfriends were, and some women became anti-war activists. Along with this came the hippy movement and passionate feelings for the environment. Women still struggled to find business careers equal to men, but their conditions were slowly improving. In the 80s, people were looking to leave turmoil behind. First Lady Nancy Reagan supported the “Just Say No” anti-drug program. Margaret Thatcher, the first female leader of Great Britain, earned the nickname “The Iron Lady.” Educational opportunities grew for women, and in 1984, 49% of all graduate degrees were being awarded to women. On TV, feminine roles were no longer cute sex symbols, but strong independent capable voices.

At first in the 1990s, feminism seemed to take a step backwards, particularly with the resignation of Margaret Thatcher, but it boldly stepped forward again, especially against sexual harassment. The introduction of the Internet allowed stay-at-home moms to run small businesses on their own. The music industry produced many big female artists like Mariah Carey and Britney Spears.

For more information on the changing roles of women see:

Bock, James. "Women Made Career Strides in 1980s Census Data Show Marked Md. Gains."

Baltimore Sun. N.p., 29 Jan. 1993. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

<http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-01-29/news/1993029154_1_maryland-women-bigley-working-women>.

Diane, Deborah. "American History of Women in the 1970s." InfoBarrel History. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.infobarrel.com/American_History_of_Women_in_the_1970s>.

Diane, Deborah. "American History of Women in the 1990s." InfoBarrel History. N.p., 11 Mar.

2011. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.infobarrel.com/American_History_of_Women_in_the_1990s>.

Walsh, Kenneth T. "The 1960s: A Decade of Change for Women." US News. U.S.News &

World Report, 12 Mar. 2010. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

<http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/03/12/the-1960s-a-decade-of-change-for-

women>.

"Women in 1950s America." Women in 1950s America. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

<http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view_print.php?book=42401>.

Oral History Narratives:

For my interview,  I spoke with Fran Rahoche, a close family friend.  Fran is currently 69 and happily married with 4 children and 4 grandchildren.  She spends her time babysitting and running Bible studies at her church, and was happy to be interviewed. 

The video contains the audio from the interview as well as some pictures from Fran.  Interview of Fran

or go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqPF9nLRs30&feature=youtu.be

Living through and Escaping from Angolan Sectarian Violence

Contributed by Trevor Miranda

An interview with a veteran of the Angolan colonial forces established by Portugal as tensions and body counts rose on the path towards Angolan Independence, and subsequently a bloody civil war.

A NOTE OF CAUTION: There may be parts of this interview or its addendum that some might find distressing, disgusting, horrifying, or depressing. It was a time of incredible violence and horror for both the native Angolans and the Portuguese citizens that had called Angola their home.

Angola had been a Portuguese colony ruled by Portugal for hundreds of years. The Angolan War for Independence was a building up of various societal tensions as Portugal exerted its regional supremacy more forcefully. Civil disobedience began in the 1940s and 1950s. By 1933, Portugal had signed the "Portuguese Colonial Act," a piece of legislation that reinforced Portuguese supremacy over the native Angolans. This inspired various national groups that petitioned the UN for protectorate status. During the 1950s, there was a wave of immigration to this settlement on the heels of another Portuguese bill that established Angola as a province of Portugal. This, again, raised Angolan nationalist parties like the Party of the United Struggle for Africans in Angola and the Angolan Communist Party. During the 1960s, the problem was not just denial of nationalism, Angola became a hot bed of societal unrest. A major event was the Baixa de Cassanje revolt, which had Angolan natives revolting against a multi-national corporation by the name of "Cotonang" because of poor working conditions. This, on top of two attacks by Angolan natives on a Portuguese police stations and Portuguese prison in Angola, caused a rash, harsh response by the Portuguese provincial government. The Portuguese enlisted settlers as vigilantes to destroy slums in Angola and slaughter their populations. This obviously caused a problem with Angolan natives and further fueled more nationalism in Angola. The Union of Peoples of Angola began the incursion into Angola on March 15, 1961. Eventually, the fighting ended with the Portuguese granting the Angolan province sovereignty, because they couldn't afford to wage war in Angola with a few other colonial skirmishes happening elsewhere. Then began the Angolan Civil War.

The two main groups at battle during the civil war were the MPLA (People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola) and the FNLA (National Front for the Liberation of Angola.) The war was stereotypical of most African politics. These two main nationalist groups absorbed various, smaller nationalist groups that then had it out for control of the political vacuum created by the loss of the provincial power, Portugal. The Communist-supported MPLA party won in the end and is now the current government of Angola.

Very luckily, my grandparents and mother only had to experience a bit of the civil war before they made their escape in 1975.

Below is an interview I conducted with my grandfather, a man who had no family, who was sent to Angola, and then forced to fight for the Angolan provincial forces because of a mandatory service law. I tried not to dive too deeply into anything too specific, because the man still relives the horrors of this time in his life every time it's brought up. There is a point towards the very end of the interview where he gets a bit incoherent. I've left it in and my mother has translated it as best she could. He was getting very emotional and shaky when describing the escape. The interview is subtitled for your convenience with a backdrop of some hopefully less melancholy photographs mostly taken by contracted photographers during his enlistment (as taking photographs by yourself was a serious offence.) Note: To see the subtitles, you must select "Watch on Youtube" and then hit the CC for the caption setting.