Topic 2: The Impact of World War Two Flashcards
What did FDR set up with leading industrialists during the Second World War?
The War Production Board
What was given to large companies who produced goods?
Contracts to produce weapons such as machine guns so that they could make money e.g. General Motors
Which industries expanded due to government contracts?
- Coal
- Oil
- Steel
- Iron
What percentage of weapons was the USA producing by 1944?
50%
When did the USA become the most powerful economy in the world?
September 1945
How was unemployment resolved during WWII?
- Conscription
- 16 million men and women served in the US armed forces
What did unemployment figures drop to in 1944 from 1939?
- 1939 = 9.5 million
- 1944 = 670,000
How many people migrated from the rural south to the industrial north for work?
4 million
Who were the majority of people that migrated for work?
Black Americans
How many women joined the workforce during WWII?
7 million
How many aircraft workers were women?
1 in 3
What percentage of munitions workers were women?
50%
What did the US GNP increase from in 1940 to in 1950?
- 1940 = $200,000 million
- 1950 = $300,000 million
What did WWII help America recover from?
The Great Depression
What did Americans use war bonds for?
Cashed in and used money to buy consumer goods
What did car sales rise by 1945-50?
Over 6.5 million
How much was spent on weapons research & development?
Billions of dollars
What type of areas were used for weapons testing?
Desert areas e.g. Arizona & New Mexico
What was a result of many businesses following the military to their new bases?
- Investment
- Tech development
- Jobs across the country
Why was there a high demand for American goods?
- European nations had been ravaged by war
- High demand at home and abroad
What percentage of steel, oil and cars did America produce in the 1940s?
- Steel = 57%
- Oil = 62%
- Cars = 80%
When did FDR die and who took over?
- 1945
- VP Truman
What kept the US industry busy?
- The Korean War (1950-53)
- The Cold War
What was the standard of living for the average American compared to the British in 1960?
American = 3x British
What was the wage of an average factory worker by 1959?
$80 per week
What are examples of luxuries that became necessities?
- Televisions
- Cars
- Washing machines
- Refrigerators
Who moved to the suburbs?
Middle-class families
Where was the first suburb?
Levittown on Long Island
How were houses reasonably priced?
Through low cost mortgages
What did most people have a car for in the suburbs?
To commute into the cities for work
Why were the suburbs seen as the best place to raise a family?
They are away from dangerous city life
What did the baby boom increase the population by and what impact did this have?
- 40 million
- Greater demand for new homes
How many people owned homes by 1960?
33 million
What became symbols of status?
Owning goods like cars, hi-fi systems or swimming pools
What did women who didn’t work do to avoid boredom?
Have Tupperware Parties
Who did building developers often refuse to sell homes to?
Ethnic minorities
What percentage of people still lived below the poverty line in 1959?
29%
How was income influenced?
By the area you lived in, those living in the south earned much less than those living in the north or west coast
What percentage of New York recipient’s of welfare were African Americans in 1955?
40%
What was medical care like in the 1950s?
- No national health service
- Cost of medical care increased
How many families were living off less than $2000 in the 1950s?
11 million
What did the USA lag behind many nations in?
- Providing good pensions
- Welfare services
Why were people living in cities more likely to get sick?
Due to poor living conditions
