Social Impact of the Second World War

Question 1

Where did Americans migrate to during the war?

Answer 1

It’s estimated that 27 million Americans moved, while the population of rural areas fell by 29%. Most moved to areas with defence plants, notably California whose population rose by 72% during the war years, and 200,000 moved to government employment in Washington DC

Question 2

Throughout the USA what was there a shortage of? What were the solutions and results?

Answer 2

Housing: one solution was to build barrack-style accommodation which at one time housed 1.5 million people. In 1943, there were several race riots in Detroit as a result of competition for housing which left 34 dead

Question 3

What did women face a shortage of during the war and how did they deal with it?

Answer 3

Materials deployed for the war effort. They grew their own produce in “Victory gardens”, joined the Women’s Land Army to replace male agriculture workers, and learned to manage without luxuries.

Question 4

How did the government help with childcare?

Answer 4

To accommodate the growing numbers of women in the workforce the Community Facilities Act of 1941 provided childcare facilities for women in defence plants, however, the demand far exceeded the supply.