WW2 Economic Impact Flashcards
What policy had kept the USA out of the affairs of other countries?
Isolationism after WW1
What had the USA concentrated on after WW1?
Building its economy and strong trade links
What did FDR say in October 1937?
Peace loving nations should break of relations with aggressive nations
He was referring to Germany, Italy and Japan which had been taking over other nations in Europe, Africa and the Far East
When did America declare support for Britain and France against Germany and its allies?
September 1939
Why was FDR concerned about Japan?
It’s aggressiveness in the Far East where America did trade and controlled large areas of land
When did the USA begin to help Britain and France against Germany?
November 1939
The Cash and Carry Plan
America sold Britain and France US weapons, which created valuable production jobs at a time of rising unemployment
When did the Lend Lease start? When did the USA strike a similar deal with the USSR?
March 1941 to Britain
June 1941 after Nazi invasion
What was the Lend Lease?
America started to lend weapons to Britain and then to the USSR when Germany attacked it
Who had been wary of Roosevelt during the New Deal but cooperated with him during the war?
Industrialists
By 1945, how much was spent on the war?
$250 million per day
How had military budgets increased from 1940 to 1941?
4 times that of 1940 in 1941
What did Roosevelt set up in 1942?
War Production Board
Who was in charge of the War Production Board?
Industrialist William Knusden
What came as a result of the War Production Board?
80% of military contacts went to just 100 firms
How many planes were produced between 1941 and 45?
300,000
How many tanks were produced between 1941-45?
100,000
How many artillery pieces were produced between 1941-45?
370,000
How many guns were produced between 1941-45?
20 million
How many rounds of ammunition were produced between 1941-45?
44 billion
By 1945, how what were shipbuilders producing each day?
A cargo ship
How many machine guns did the USA produce?
2.6 million
How many warships did the USA produce?
86,000
When did unemployment disappear?
1942
Why had unemployment disappeared by 1942?
Everyone had found a job either in the army or working towards the war effort
How did GNP increase?
$90 billion in 1939 to $170 billion in 1945
How much did the amount of money workers had to spend on consumer goods increase by?
50%
How much did prices grow by?
31%
How much did workers contribute to the war effort by buying war bonds?
$130
How many workers were there in factories?
14 million
How many extra workers did General Motors take on during the war?
750,000
How many workers migrated from the rural south to places like California?
4 million
How much did Britain receive from the USA through the lend lease?
$30 billion
When did the lend lease extend to USSR?
November 1941
How much were the USSR given in the lend lease?
$11 billion
How many tanks did the USSR receive?
7000
How many aircraft did the USSR receive?
19,000
How many jeeps did the USSR receive?
400,000
What resources were China, France and other nations receiving through the lend lease?
Arms, food, medicine and other equipment
How much in total was shipped?
$50 billion
What did the production of goods stimulate?
US economy and the cycle of prosperity
Between 1939 and 1944, how had unemployment dropped?
From 9.5 million to just 670,000
How much did farm income grow by?
250%
What did the value of farms grow to?
$20 billion
Between 1940-44, how many black Americans moved to cities?
5 million
How many black Americans found work in armament factories?
2 million
How did the number of black Americans working for the government rise?
50,000 in 1939 to 200,000 by 1944
What was set up to prevent discrimination against African Americans in defence and government jobs?
The Fair Employment Practice Committee
When was the Fair Employment Practice Committee set up?
June 1941
How did the FEPC make some companies improve their polices in relation to African American workers?
It recommended that they didn’t receive profitable government contracts
How was there discrimination in the armed services?
Black sailors only allowed to work in ships’ kitchens
Black soldiers not allowed to train as officers
Initially the air force wouldn’t train black pilots
How did the racial barriers begin to break down as the war went on?
Air force allowed African Americans to train as pilots (but only in black only squadrons)
All of the armed services trained black officers (but they could only lead other black soldiers in segregated units)
African American women permitted to become nurses (but could only treat black soldiers)
How many Native Americans joined the army?
75,000
How many businesses closed in 1942? Why was this?
300,000 they didn’t have government contracts to produce for the war effort
How many businesses were set up during the war?
500,000
Examples of new businesses set up during the war?
Coca Cola- supplied US troops
Wrigley’s - packaged rations for soldiers and included chewing gum in the rations
Why did farmers prosper?
Supplied food to the military
How did trade union membership grow?
From 11 million in 1941 to 15 million by 1945
What did the National War Labor Board restrict?
Wage rises during the war saying they shouldn’t be over 15% of wages in January 1941
Wages did rise however
What group went on strike as a result of the restricted wage rises? When was this?
Miners
1943
What was introduced?
Paid holidays
Health insurance schemes
