(3d) The war and the economy, 1941 - 45 Flashcards
What was unemployment like in 1944?
1.2%
In 1944 how many women had entered the workforce?
By the end of the war how many were employed?
6.5 million
60%
How many Black Americans were working for the feudal government 1939 compared to 1944?
Number of black Americans working for the federal government increased from 50,000 in 1939 to 200,000 by 1944.
How did GDP change from 1939 to 1945?
GNP rose from $91.3 billion in 1939 to $166.6 billion in 1945
How many hours of work were lost per month by women in Detrioit defence factories to deal with laundry?
Juggled with family responsibilities: women working in Detroit defence factories lost 100,000 hours per month to deal with laundry!
How were women involved in the home front?
Home front civil efforts: Women’s Land Army and rationing
What was the Community Facilities Act 1941?
What effect did this have?
childcare for women in defence factories - but had limited effect
By 1944 …… of women were working.
By 1944, 43% of women were working
January 1942: Director of the Woman’s Bureau reported ……….. women were involved in war work
2.8 million
By 1945: despite racial and gender prejudice………… were employed in war-related industries
300,000 black women
What happened to marriage and birthrates during the war?
Women: Traditional roles
Many continued in traditional roles: marriage and birth rates increased, population increased by 6.5 million
What Hardship did women face during the war?
Many women moved to live near husbands on military bases, dislocation from family and cramped conditions
Prejudice and lower pay within workforce.
What was the The Fair Employment and Practices Commission (FEPC) 1941?
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.
in 1940 how many teenagers employed?
900,000 teenagers employed
Spring 1944 how many teenagers were employed?
Why was this?
over 3 million, 1/3 of teenagers due to labour shortages