During these hard times, many factories closed down in North Carolina. The Great Depression continued through 1941, and soon United States entered World War II. Fort Bragg, North Carolina became a great center for training Marines. During these times when men signed up for war, women took their jobs at the factories. World War II ended in 1945. African American soldiers were shocked to be treated as second class citizens, even though they had served their country. In the 50's and 60's African Americans in North Carolina played an important role in the growing of civil rights movement. The first "sit in" movement at Woolworth diner in the 1960's, continued for several days. African Americans sat with White people at the diner, causing retaliations. This movement caused the company to change its laws. They started allowing African Americans and Caucasians to sit together at their diners. By the mid 1960's, Congress had passed laws to stop racial