impact of ww1 and ww2

Question 1

summary

2 points

Answer 1

1. gov concern - ensure production maintained
   willing to abandon laissez-faire policy
2. employers saw opportunity to increase profits but had to be careful to conciliate workers

Question 2

gains

3 points

Answer 2

1. improvement in position and rights reflected by growth of union membership
   WW1 (1914-1919)
   1916 2.7 million
   1920 5 million

WW2 (1939-42)
1940 8.9 million
1955 14.8 million

2. rise in real wages
   WW1 rise 20%
   WW2 rise 70%
3. many workers do well due to increased availability of overtime work

Question 3

impact of National War Labor Board

6 points

Answer 3

WW1
1. recognised unions as representing workers

2. guarantee right to join unions (in return for no strike policy)
3. employers supported union rights. limited working day to 8 hours

WW2
1. NWLB virtually took control of industry.

2. position of workers strengthened - shortage of labour (recruitment to armed forces and halting of immigration)
3. many women AA and NA who had been excluded from work force find employment

Question 4

long term impact of wars

3 points

Answer 4

1. war ended - employers sought to regain power.
2. periods of industrial unrest immediately after war
   1919-20 4 million workers involved in strikes
   1946-47 4.5 million workers involved in strikes
3. temporary gains
   employers and gov sought to reverse at earliest opportunity