Topic 6 - America during the Second World War (1939-1945)

Question 1

When was the Lend Lease programme introduced?

Answer 1

March 1941

Question 2

How did the Lend Lease programme work?

Answer 2

The U.S. loaned war materials to its allies (e.g. Britain, France, the Soviet Union). Most war goods not destroyed would be returned after the war.

Question 3

Give three examples of materials that the U.S. sent to its allies under Lend Lease.

Answer 3

Arms (weapons, vehicles etc.)
Food
Medicine

Question 4

Altogether, what was the value of the war materials shipped to other countries under Lend Lease ($)?

Answer 4

$50.1 billion

Question 5

How many new businesses started up during the war?

Answer 5

More than 500,000

Question 6

How many Americans worked in factories during WWII?

Answer 6

14 million

Question 7

By how much did General Motors increase its workforce by during the war?

Answer 7

750,000

Question 8

How many workers moved from the rural south to work in factories in the north during the war?

Answer 8

4 million

Question 9

What group did Roosevelt set up in January 1942 to boost wartime production?

Answer 9

The War Production Board

Question 10

Who was asked to attend the War Production Board?

Answer 10

America’s leading industrialists (major business owners).

Question 11

What percentage of America’s industrial contracts went to the top 100 firms?

Answer 11

80%

Question 12

Give two examples of companies who prospered during the war.

Answer 12

Coca-Cola

Wrigley’s

Question 13

What were Americans encouraged to invest their income in during the war?

Answer 13

War bonds

Question 14

What happened when Americans bought war bonds?

Answer 14

After the war, the bonds would be paid back by the government with interest.

Question 15

How much was spent by Americans to buy war bonds during the war ($)?

Answer 15

$129 billion

Question 16

How did the Lend Lease programme help U.S. industry to grow?

Answer 16

The majority of contracts for equipment were with U.S. businesses → increased production → provided jobs → more spending.

Question 17

Why did World War Two reduce unemployment in America?

Answer 17

1. Lend Lease → American businesses had to increase production to supply equipment to allies → more workers were needed e.g. in factories (→ more spending → increased production → more jobs → more spending etc).
2. America entered the war in December 1941 → needed weapons, equipment etc. for its own war effort → production had to increase → more workers were needed.
3. Increasing demand for workers → wages increased → more spending → businesses made greater profits, and new businesses were set up to meet demand → more jobs.

Question 18

Why did leading industrialists support the Democrat government during the Second World War?

Answer 18

1. Large firms / businesses believed they would make a lot of money out of the war (by manufacturing war materials) → supported Roosevelt and co-operated with him.
2. War Production Board set up → Roosevelt asked leading industrialists for their advice on how to meet war production needs → Roosevelt won their support.

Question 19

How did World War Two help existing American companies to grow?

Answer 19

1. Some existing companies (e.g. Coca-Cola) followed American troops around the world to provide them with their products → set up factories around the world → became popular around the world → increased production → increased profit (→ more jobs → more spending).
2. Some existing companies gained additional work (e.g. Wrigley’s packaged rations for U.S. forces) → gained greater popularity (e.g. Wrigley’s added their chewing gum to the rations) → increased production → increased profit (→ more jobs → more spending).

Question 20

Why did World War Two help agriculture to grow in America?

Answer 20

USA exported food to help its allies → increased demand for U.S. farm produce → prices increased → U.S. farmers’ profits increased.

Question 21

Why was the American government able to spend more money during the Second World War?

Answer 21

1. Leading industrialists supported the war → Roosevelt had enough support to raise taxes and spend government money.
2. Americans contributed $129 billion to the war effort by buying war bonds → gave the government money to spend on wartime production.