(3d) The war and the economy, 1941 - 45 Flashcards
what did employment look like in 1942
By 1942 unemployment had effectively ceased
unemployment in 1940 compared to 1944
Unemployment = 1.2% in 1944 from 13.9% in 1940.
how many women entered the workforce. in 1944
In 1944 alone 6.5 million women entered the workforce. By the end of the war almost 60% of women were employed
how much did the number of black Americans working for the federal government increase between 1939-1944
Number of black Americans working for the federal government increased from 50,000 in 1939 to 200,000 by 1944.
summarise
II Women and the war effort
Men away at war or for work, women began working outside the home to support the war effort
Many women saw this as an opportunity to show their ability to be independent from men
By 1944, 43% of women were working
women and traditional roles continuity
population increased by
Many continued in traditional roles: marriage and birth rates increased, population increased by 6.5 million
summarise Women: Hardship
Many women moved to live near husbands on military bases, dislocation from family and cramped conditions
Prejudice and lower pay within workforce.
The Fair Employment and Practices Commission (FEPC) 1941 ineffective in improving equality within the workforce
Tried to prevent discrimination but there was little progress in attempts to enforce equal pay.
Unions reluctant to get involved in struggle for equal pay as when war ended men and women would return to pre-war life: in reality meant unemployment for thousands of women.
what was the national debt in 1945
$260 billion
how did roosevelt hope to pay for the war production
increasing taxes and the sale of war bonds
how much tax did the highest earners pay
those with incomes over 200,000 paid 94% tax
impact of war bonds
provided 50% odf federal income
prices and wages increased by
Prices rose by 28% during war, but wages increased by 40%
