Impact of World War 2

Question 1

Impact of WW2 – GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION

Answer 1

GOVT. INTERVENTION
• 1942 Roosevelt set up the War Production Board.
• Aimed to organise production and recruitment of workers to meet increased demand for war goods.
• Business leaders who had criticised the NEW DEAL now helped the president.
• Civilians were encouraged to invest in WAR BONDS. They gave the Govt. money and were promised a return in later years.

Question 2

Impact of WW2 – INDUSTRY

Answer 2

INDUSTRY
• Main contracts went to 100 big companies but the benefits multiplied.
• 500,000 new businesses established during the war.
• LEND LEASE was set up to send weapons to America’s allies immediately. Receiving payment later.
• LEND LEASE stimulated production - $10 billion of goods were sent to Europe.
• 1944, the USA was making half of all the worlds weapons.
• Farmers also got huge boost as food exports increased.

Question 3

Impact of WW2 - EMPLOYMENT

Answer 3

EMPLOYMENT
• 14 million Americans worked in factories producing war goods.
• General Motors took on 750,000 new workers making shells, bombers, tanks, machine guns, and engines.
• Many unemployed people moved to cities and states where workers were needed.
• Others were drafted into the army.
• With unemployment ended and with workers in demand, wages increased. Workers now had more money to spend.

Question 4

Impact of WW2 – AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS

Answer 4

AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS
• US army included over 1 million African Americans. The war highlighted the problem of racism in the USA.
• In Europe they were fighting to defeat a racist regime in Germany and yet many felt they faced racism at home in the USA.
• Those based in the UK found less racial discrimination than in the USA where racial segregation was still common.
• When African American soldiers returned to the USA they wanted equality.

Question 5

Impact of WW2 – AFRICAN AMERICANS AT HOME

Answer 5

AFRICAN AMERICANS AT HOME
• By 1944, 2 million African Americans worked in factories and as a result the northern states started to feel less segregated.
• Membership of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) surged. By the end of the war it had around 500,000 members.
• Highlights that African Americans still faced problems but felt more empowered and more hopeful that they could challenge racism and improve their situation.

Question 6

Impact of WW2 – WOMEN

Answer 6

WOMEN
• Percentage of Women in paid work increased from 35% in 1941 to 50% in 1944.
• Women often replaced male workers who had gone to fight.
• For many it was the first time they had been in the workplace.
• Women worked in many industries and often did jobs that were fiddly and required small hands such as electronics.
• One third of workers in plane construction were women.
• Women’s wages increased as they proved how important they were in the war effort (never equal to men).
• 60% of managers said their best workers were women.
• Stereotypical views of women remained. They were expected to return to looking after the household once the war was over.