2. The Impact of the Second World War Flashcards
(18 cards)
What Industries expanded due to government contracts?
Coal, Iron, Steel and Oil
By 1944, the USA was producing __% of the weapons in the world
50
By September 1945, the US economy was the _____________?
Most powerful in the world
How was unemployment resolved
Conscription, 16 million men and women served in the US armed forces
How many people migrated from the rural south to industrial north for work?
- 4 million people
- Majority were black Americans
What were War Bonds and how were they beneficial for the public
- Making a loan to the government, and you hold onto the bond and eventually cash it in for more money
-Americans cashed in war bonds and used the money to buy consumer goods
America produced __% of the world’s steel, __% of oil and __% of car’s?
57%, 62%, 80%
What happened to desert area’s like New Mexico and Arizona
- They became centres for weapon testing
Why was there such high demand for American goods at home and abroad?
- Baby Boom, more affluent society
- European Nations were ravaged by the war
By 1960, the standard of living was _x greater than the average British person
3x greater
What was the average wage of a factory worker by 1959
$80 per week
What was the first suburb called
Levittown , on Long Island
Why were Suburbs so desirable and popular amongst the middle class families
- Houses were reasonably priced via low cost mortgages
- Most had a car for easy commute to work
- Best place to raise family away from the dangers of the city life
- More open gardens and houses
How much did the baby boom increase the population by?
40 million, led to a greater demand for housing
Who did not benefit from the new found affluence of the late 40’s and 50’s
Ethnic minorities
- Many building developers refused to sell homes to ethnic minorities
29% still lived below the poverty line
Why were people more likely to get sick?
- Poor living conditions
- No national health service and the cost of medical care increased
How many families were living off of incomes of less than $2000 a year
11 million families
In what attribute did the USA lag behind compared to many European nations?
The USA lagged behind in providing good pensions and welfare
