Chloe Leal - During World War II, Thousands of Women Chased Their Own California Dream

During World War II, Thousands of Women Chased Their Own California Dream - Smithsonian
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America’s wartime draft plucked men from the workforce so much so that employers often targeted women to “do something for your country!” and resulted in a newly entirely feminine and extremely productive workforce. Much of these newly available and other new/related to the war effort jobs were clustered in California, thus, thousands of people pouring west for economic opportunity and patriotism.

This surge of internal migration for economic opportunity is akin to that which was caused by the California Gold Rush which began in 1948, just a century previous to World War II. California had just been admitted to America’s rule and when “get rich quick” came knocking, Americans in job-dry areas came answering with high hopes and dollar signs in their eyes. Not quite as patriotic as that of assisting a war effort, but this sudden population in California allowed it to apply for statehood and soon entered the United States as a free state.
This article and its attached video was incredible to hear from varied personal accounts of “Rosie the Riveters” and others who had their part in moving west in this time period.