The Impact of WWII on America

Question 1

What was Isolationism?

Answer 1

America’s policy to not involve itself in any International conflict

Question 2

What was the Neutrality Act? When was it passed?

Answer 2

• banned loans to countries who were fighting
• 1935

Question 3

What was FDR’s ‘Quarantine’ speech? When did he give it?

Answer 3

• said that peaceful countries should stand up to aggressive countries
• was referring to Germany, Italy and Japan
  -1937

Question 4

What happened in September 1939? What did FDR declare?

Answer 4

• WWII broke out
• FDR declared support for the allies

Question 5

What was the ‘Cash and Carry Plan’? When did it begin?

Answer 5

• November 1939
• the Allies began buying American weapons

Question 6

What was the impact of ‘Cash and Carry Plan’ on American society?

Answer 6

created valuable jobs, at a time when unemployment was rising

Question 7

What did America do in 1940, when Germany defeated France?

Answer 7

FDR gave Britain 50 warships

Question 8

What was ‘Lend Lease’? When did it happen?

Answer 8

• March 1941
• gave Britain $7000 million worth of weapons, knowing that they’d never get it back

Question 9

What was the impact of ‘Lend Lease’?

Answer 9

created even more valuable jobs, so unemployment began to fall

Question 10

How was unemployment impacted by WWII?

Answer 10

• 1941: 5.5 million
• 1944: 670,000

Question 11

When did America join WWII? Why?

Answer 11

• December 1941
• Japanese Bomber Planes attacked Pearl Harbour

Question 12

What proportion of the American public supported America going to war?

Answer 12

90%

Question 13

Between 1940 and 1945, how did the number of women in work change?

Answer 13

• increased from 12 mn to 19mn
• women made up 1/3 of the workforce

Question 14

What types of work did women do during WWII?

Answer 14

traditionally ‘male’ jobs
↳ lumberjacks etc.

Question 15

How many women joined the armed forces? What was the WACs?

Answer 15

• 200,000
  ↳ Women’s Army Corps

Question 16

What were the wages of women like, compared to men?

Answer 16

earned only 50% to 60% of men’s wage

Question 17

What happened to many women in 1945? (in regard to their jobs)

Answer 17

• they returned to traditional roles

Question 18

How did gender roles remain the same for women?

Answer 18

• they were still objectified
• couldn’t fight in combat

Question 19

What was the FEPC? What did it do?

Answer 19

the Fair Employment Practice Committee
↳ reported on discrimination, to improve the civil rights of Americans

Question 20

How many African-Americans fought in WWII?

Answer 20

1 million

Question 21

What could African American women do in the war? What was the problem with this?

Answer 21

• they could become nurses
  ↳ but could only treat black soldiers

Question 22

What were AA allowed to do after 1941?

Answer 22

• become pilots
• become officers

Question 23

How many African-American pilots were their during WWII?

Answer 23

600

Question 24

Who was an AA pilot?

Answer 24

• Lee Rayford

Question 25

But how did the lives of AA not change after the war?

Answer 25

• Jim Crow Laws remained
• still faced discrimination