Impact Of World War Two Flashcards
What event prompted the USA to join World War II?
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941
Who did FDR use to help with the war effort?
Leading businessmen
What was the purpose of the War Production Board?
To oversee war production and contracts
Which company produced machine guns during WWII?
General Motors
What percentage of the world’s weapons was the USA producing by 1944?
50%
What was the unemployment rate in the USA in 1939 compared to 1944?
9.5 million in 1939; 670,000 in 1944
How many people migrated from the rural south to the industrial north for work during WWII?
4 million
What percentage of aircraft workers were women during WWII?
1 in 3
What was the increase in US GNP from 1940 to 1950?
$200,000 million to $300,000 million
What contributed to America’s recovery from the Great Depression?
The Second World War
What was the increase in sales of new cars between 1945 and 1950?
Over 6.5 million
What percentage of the world’s steel did America produce post-WWII?
57%
What was the average wage of factory workers by 1959?
$80 per week
What was the first suburb built on Long Island?
Levittown
What was a common social activity for women who didn’t work during the late 1940s and 1950s?
Tupperware Parties
What was the increase in the population during the baby boom?
40 million
What percentage of the population lived below the poverty line in 1959?
29%
What was a significant issue regarding home ownership for ethnic minorities in the late 1940s and 1950s?
Refusal of building developers to sell homes to them
True or False: The USA had a national health service during the late 1940s and 1950s.
False
Fill in the blank: The average family income of 11 million families was less than _______ a year.
$2000
What was the impact of living conditions on health during this period?
Increased likelihood of getting sick
How did the income of individuals vary in the USA during this time?
It was influenced by the area they lived in
What was the status of welfare services in the USA compared to European nations?
The USA lagged behind in providing good pensions and welfare services
