The impact of the Second World War on the USA Flashcards
Economic recovery
• War production
Between 1941 and 1945, the USA produced 86,000 tanks, 296,000 aircraft and 15 million rifles.
Economic recovery
• In comparison with the New Deal
WW2 played a much greater role in economic recovery because nearly 9 million people were still out of work in 1941.
Economic recovery
• Agriculture
Farm income grew by 250%
Employment
1) Unemployment effectively ceased by 1942
2) Most Americans were comparatively well paid during the war and did not suffer the deprivations of those in other belligerent countries.
3) Average wages increased by 40%, giving them the power to consume, which fuelled the post-war boom.
Treatment of Japanese Americans
Increasing fear of a Japanese attack on the West Coast led to calls for internment by respected journalists.
Treatment of Japanese Americans
• Towards the end of 1941
US-Japanese relations worsened, 2,000 Japanese-labelled subversives had been rounded up
Treatment of Japanese Americans
• 1944 Superem Court
In 1944, the Supreme Court forbade the internment of loyal Japanese Americans
Women at the beginning of the Second World War
There were about 13 million female workers and at the height of the war in 1944, increased to 19 million.
Traditional jobs done by women
One in three aircraft workers and half of those working in electronics and munitions were women,
Public opinion on women and work
In 1942, 60% of Americans were in favour of women helping with the war industries.
Racial discrimination with women
Racial discrimination continued with African American women were always the last to be the last to be hired
Problems with women in 1945
They were excluded from the top, well-paid jobs
Women could be dismissed from her job when she married.
Employment among African Americans when the war broke out?
In 1940, there were 12.9million African Americans, in which almost 5.4 million employed, and 3.5 million were male.
What sort of jobs were African Americans doing when the war broke out?
The vast majority of those employed had menial jobs, which were low paid.
Unemployment among whites when the war broke out in Europe
Unemployment among whites was 14% and as war-related industries began to seek workers, whites were taken on immdiately
Did the WW2 have an impact on AA’s employment
Unemployed AA did not benefit from the initial boom of war-related industries employment. They earned half that of their white counterparts.
What was the aim of the March on Washington Movement?
To shame the government into action and bring an end to the inequality, as there were discrimination in the war industries and the US armed forces
What did Roosevelt do to stop the March on Washington Movement
Roosevelt issued Executive Order and set up the Fair Employment Practices Commission to prevent discrimination at work
Randolph and ciil disobedience 1941
He encouraged acts of civil disobedience to show opposition to laws that permitted unfair and unequal treatment.
What did Fair Employment Practices Commission 1941 do?
It investigated complaints and took action against alleged employment discrimination.
Employment and African Americans after the WW2
As jobs in the defence industries increased, many African Americans migrated from the South in search of employment.
What did Roosevelt do in 1943 on the FEPC
He issued Executive Order, which gave the Commission greater powers, and increased its budget to nearly half a million dollars.
Success of FEPC by 1943
The FEPC investigated about 8,000 instances of discrimination and was successful with 66% of its cases in the North-east, 62% in the Mid-west.
What were the treatments in the Jim Crow Army
African-Americans soldiers were given inferior training, had few recreational facilities, and endured racial slurs and physical mistreatment.
What role did African Americans normally do in WW2
African Americans performed the menial non-combat tasks such as cooking, guarding prisoners, delivering supplies and building camps and roads.
Difficulties faced by AA armed force
They found promotion difficult and the highest rank most reached was only first lieutenant.
Why were most AA soldiers served overseas during WW2?
By 1943, only 79,000 out of a total of 504,000 AA soldiers were overseas because white army commanders did not want them
Progress for AA made by Roosevelt during WW2
• What did he do
In 1940, Roosevelt ordered the air corps to recruit an all-African-American flying unit
Success for AA in airforce during WW2
By the end of 1945, more than 600 pilots had been trained despite not being allowed to fly in the same groups as whites.
AA in the Navy during WW2
Discrimination was worst in the Navy with AA sailors given the most dangerous job of loading ammunition on ships bound fro war zones.
