Legacies of WWII and Post War Prosperity Flashcards
when did WWII come to an end
May 8th 1945
why did many Americans believe the war was good?
They had a different experience from other nations involved. They did not experience bombing, destruction, massive casualties or serious economic hardship, food shortages or rationing like millions of people in Europe and the far east did.
what was the estimated civilian and military death of those involved in the war
The Soviet Union, Germany, Japan, France and the UK, military and civilian death combined was 27,538,000 v 400,000 American soldiers and 6 Civilians.
what belief developed as a result of American Experience of the war
The idea of American exceptionalism
what is American Exceptionalism
The idea that America is unique and exceptional
how strong was the US economy after WWII
The economy was really strong and had recovered from the great depression, partially due to the New Deal and minimal spending on the war.
how much of the world’s population did the US have
7%
how much of the world income did the US have
42%
how much of the worlds discovered oil did the US own
62%
how much of the world’s manufacturing output did the US have
50%
how many households owned a radio
33M
why was it often claimed that it was not the New Deal that pulled the USA out of the great depression but the war that kickstarted the economic recovery?
The US experienced an economic boom during and after the war. In 1940, employment stood at 8M, while in the war years, there was full employment to that extent that there was shortages of workers.
why did America develop into a consumer society
Industries flourished during the war which helped make the American economy the most dynamic and successful in the world and as a result, most Americans had a lot of disposable income, this then raised the standards of living and created employment for those involved in the production of consumer goods. With more disposable income, more products available and unemployment under 4% throughout the decade, America developed into a consumer society.
was the American dream a reality then
Yes for some
