WW2 and US economy

Question 1

Why was Roosevelt worried by war in Europe in 1939?

Answer 1

Concerned about rising power of Germany and Japan (determined to help Hitler’s opponents)
USA joined war in 1941

Question 2

When did the Lend Lease scheme begin?

Answer 2

March 1941

Question 3

What was the Lend Lease scheme?

Answer 3

• USA loaned war material to its allies (countries fighting against Germany and Japan) and would returned at the end of the war
• no charge would be made if destroyed

Question 4

How did Lend Lease help the American economy?

Answer 4

• total of $50.1 billion worth of materials were shipped (no payment received for these during wartime) but it stimulated the economy as contracts placed with US firms)

Question 5

By 1944, how many of the world’s weapons were produced by America?

Answer 5

Almost half (almost twice the amount by both Germany and Japan together)

Question 6

How did Roosevelt and industrialists help America meet the wartime demand?

Answer 6

• after mistrust over the New Deal policies, industrialists now helped and supported Roosevelt
• Roosevelt bale to raise taxes and spend money to produce weapons
• War Production Board

Question 7

What was the War Production Board?

Answer 7

• Set up in January 1942
• Asked countries leading industrialists to ask advice about wartime production
• 80% of wartime contracts went to 100 firms (happy to help in war effort as would make a lot of money)
• work subcontracted out to smaller firms

Question 8

During wartime, approximately how many factory workers were there in America?

Answer 8

14 million

Question 9

How many women were working before the war?

Answer 9

12 million

Question 10

How many women joined the armed forces? joined the wartime workforce?

Answer 10

300,000 armed forces

7 million workforce

Question 11

How any new businesses started up during WW2?

Answer 11

More than half million

Question 12

Name a company that made a lot of money from wartime contracts?

Answer 12

Coca-cola

Wrigleys

Question 13

What were war bonds and how did this help the economy?

Answer 13

• Ordinary people bought bonds from US government (who promised to buy back bonds at the end of the war with interest)
• $129 billion put into war effort by buying bonds

Question 14

As an demand for workers increased what happened?

Answer 14

Wages increased and stimulated new industries and more spending