How were economic opportunities expanded for African Americans, Mexican Americans, and women during World War I

As the US was still segregated during that time period, most people that volunteered to fight were White male Americans. This meant that there were less whites and males in the workforce, so African Americans, Mexican American, and women took over those jobs that former white men held.  Economic opportunities expanded for African Americans, Mexican Americans and women during World War 1 because most American men had to go to the war front after the United States entered World War I, on April 6, 1917. So these Americans went to war, leaving plenty of job opportunities for African Americans, Mexican Americans, and women in the manufacturing plants. During this time, many immigrants arrived in the United States because the country needed extra hands to work in the factories producing war supplies and weaponry.

booker t. washington was an educator who established the tuskegee institute. washington argued that african americans should learn trades that would offer them the opportunity to be progressive citizens. instead of fighting against discrimination, washington argued that african americans should use their education and knowledge to become self-sufficient in american society and not in competition with white americans.

w.e.b du bois was the founder of the niagara movement and later the naacp, du bois disagreed with washington. he argued that african americans should consistently fight for racial equality.

ida b. wells was a journalist who wrote about the horrors of lynching in the south. wells work could be considered muckraking as it led to the development of the anti-lynching campaign.