Economic Impact Of The Second World War And Post War Developments Flashcards
E comic benefit—> role of federal government
War production board set up in 1942
Organised and provided for the needs to war
By 1945 industrial production had doubled
Women gained economic and social status
Unemployment fell from 9.5 million in 1939 to 670,000 in 1944
Economic benefit—> wartime production
Traditional industries such as coal, iron and steel expanded
Arms production rapidly increased
By 1944 the USA had produced half the worlds weapons in the world
Economic benefit - Internal Migration
Between 1941 and 1945 over 27 million Americans migrated in search of better jobs
Could start a new life after difficult years of the Great Depression
Economic benefit —> end to unemployment
Conscription ended which means more workers were needed and this put an end to unemployment
In 1939 unemployment stood at 9.5 million which had fallen to 670,000 by 1944
Honour and prestige for fighting for country
Increased economic and social status
Black Americans conscripted which led to the belief that here would be change but were still discriminated against
People grew victory gardens to grow vegetables which gave people a sense of pride in the war effort and boosted morale in the home front
Why did US industry after the Second World War boom?
Millions of US citizens who purchased war bonuses cashed them in
Wanted to leave rationing behind and buy consumer goods
The automobile industry increased sails again
Surge in house buildings stimulated by low interest loans for returning servicemen
How much was the US producing
57 per cent of steel
62 per cent of oil
8- percent of cars
What led to prosperity in the 1950s
Roosevelt died in 1945 a and Harry Truman introduced a range of economic development and social welfare programmes known as the Fair Deal continued by Eisenhower from 1953
Why was Post War America an affluent society that was getting richer?
Money saved during the war was spent on consumer goods like cars and television
Hire purchase known as consumer credit increased
Growth in population provided greater demand for goods
Better working practises meant that consumer goods could be produced more cheaply
Ongoing Cold War meant that US industry kept turning out new weapons, boosting industries like steel, coal and electronics
Describe life for Americans in 1960
Standard of living of the average American was three times better than the average Briton
Encouraged to spend
Shopping became popular recreational activity
New Hokies had modern conveniences which were seen as necessities
Vast supermarkets, cars with fins and chrome, television games
All symbols of flourishing economy and free society
Why did many middle class families move to the suburbs in the 1950s?
To live the American Dream of own furnished home with latest household appliances
What were the reasons for a growth in suburbia?
Affordable housing : reasonably priced houses, cheaper land on edges of cities
Living the American dream: dream of many young couples to have their own home, bring children up away from pressures of city life
Increasing car ownership : most families had at least one car, no longer had to live close to place of work. Between 1946 and 1960 it increased from 25-60 million
Increasing affluence: economic growth so people had more money to spend, new homes affordable, afford new appliances like televisions and record players
Baby boom: between 1945 and 1950 population rose by 40 million so more demand for new homes
By 1960 25% of Americans lived in suburbia and there were common features like television sets, swimming pools and cars which became status symbols
Describe the affluent society
By 1960 the standard of the average American was 3 times the average Briton
By 1960 25 percent of Americans lived in suburbia
Television sets, record players, swimming pools and cars became status symbols
Describe the other Americans
By 1959 29 per cent of the population lived below the poverty line 50 mil
The poor included the hillbillies of the Appalachian mountains, Hispanic workers in the west, black people in the ghettos
Poor found hard to afford rising cost of healthcare
