pages 38-39 of USA A5 booklet (The social impact of WW2). Flashcards
Why could the War Production Board (WPB) redirect businesses to make weapons, vehicles and other equipment?
There was already a surplus of goods from the 1930s, meaning no more was needed which meant that they could start making more useful stuff for the armed forces.
What did government expenditure increase to in 1944?
The governments expenditure increased to $97.2 billion in 1944- increased from $20 billion.
Why could the governments expenditure increase?
The government increased taxes and workers were buying war bonds. Workers fully supported USA’s war effort after Japan and Germany declared war on them.
How much more was the USA’s national debt in 1944 than in 1941?
The national debt rose to 6 times higher than in 1941.
How many people in the USA were called up to join the war effort?
15 million people in the USA were called up in the USA to join the war effort, either in the army or in an organisation helping in some way.
By 1945, how many civilians had moved to find war work?
By 1945, 1 in 8 civilians had moved to find war work, generally from the south to the north and from the east to the west.
How much did the population of California grow by during the war due to the number of military factories there?
72%
Which states did many black Americans migrate to?
California Michigan Oregon Washington Utah Colorado Wisconsin Illinois New York
How many Black Americans lived in the north in 1940 and 1950?
By 1940 1/4 of Black Americans lived in the north and by 1950, almost 1/3 lived there.
What happened to Japanese-Americans, Italians and Germans after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour?
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, 2000 Japanese Americans were rounded up (along with 14,000 Italians and Germans) but then let off.
Between February-March 1942, how many Japanese Americans moved from the west? Why?
Between February-March 1942, 15,000 Japanese-Americans moved from the west coast because of concerns from the locals about their loyalty during the war.
How many ‘relocation centres’ were set up on the west coast of the USA and how many Japanese Americans were forcibly sent there?
100 relocation centres were set up on the west coast of the USA and 100,000 Japanese-Americans were forcibly sent there.
What happened to the homes of the Japanese-Americans when they had been sent to relocation centres?
As the Japanese-Americans left, their neighbours looted their homes, $400 million was taken from Japanese-Americans in this way during the war.
How many aircraft workers were women?
1 in 3 aircraft workers were women.
How many munitions and electronic workers were women?
50%
What % of plant managers said that women were their best workers in the war?
60% of plant managers said that women were their best workers during the war.
What jobs did women take on in the war?
They operated cranes, welded the hulls of ships, fit out ships, worked in munitions and other factories, drove taxis, buses, trains, became electricians and worked on blast furnaces.
How many women entered the workforce between 1942-45?
Over 6 million women entered the workforce between 1942-45.
What fraction of workers were women in 1944, and how many of these were married by 1945?
1/3 of all workers in 1944 were women and by 1945, 50% of these women were married.
What authorised equal pay between men and women and what happened in spite of this?
The National War Labor Board authorised equal pay for men and women, however this was not followed in spite of this.
What % did women earn for doing the same jobs as men?
Women earned 65% of men’s wages for doing the same jobs during the war.
