World War One broke out in Europe in 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. The United States remained officially neutral and stayed out of the war for several years.
By the late nineteenth century, the West Coast of the United States was home to thriving Japanese communities. After the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 barred the immigration of Chinese workers, Japanese laborers were sought for many industries, including agriculture and fishing.
World War II required an enormous number of troops and personnel throughout the world. The unrelenting demand for labor opened up new opportunities for women. For the first time, the United States military established separate branches for women.
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the cultures, histories, traditions, and achievements of Native people. We also honor veterans this month, on November 11.
![Photo by U.S. Army Signal Corps from Library of Congress [U.S. Army Infantry troops, African American unit, marching northwest of Verdun, France, in World War I]](https://www.lapl.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_latest_list_120x90/public/blogs/2024-02/aasoldiers-wwi.jpg?itok=qE7AXcRA "Photo by U.S. Army Signal Corps from Library of Congress")
![Panoramic view of Heart Mountain Relocation Center, the WWII Japanese American internment camp in Wyoming, [ca 1943]. Shades of L.A.: Japanese American Community](https://www.lapl.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_latest_list_120x90/public/blogs/2022-05/heartmountain.jpg?itok=w6OAOiJi "Panoramic view of Heart Mountain Relocation Center, the WWII Japanese American internment camp in Wyoming, [ca 1943]. Shades of L.A.: Japanese American Community")
