Topic 2: The Impact of World War Two

Question 1

What did FDR set up with leading industrialists during the Second World War?

Answer 1

The War Production Board

Question 2

What was given to large companies who produced goods?

Answer 2

Contracts to produce weapons such as machine guns so that they could make money e.g. General Motors

Question 3

Which industries expanded due to government contracts?

Answer 3

• Coal
• Oil
• Steel
• Iron

Question 4

What percentage of weapons was the USA producing by 1944?

Answer 4

50%

Question 4

When did the USA become the most powerful economy in the world?

Answer 4

September 1945

Question 4

How was unemployment resolved during WWII?

Answer 4

• Conscription
• 16 million men and women served in the US armed forces

Question 5

What did unemployment figures drop to in 1944 from 1939?

Answer 5

• 1939 = 9.5 million
• 1944 = 670,000

Question 6

How many people migrated from the rural south to the industrial north for work?

Answer 6

4 million

Question 7

Who were the majority of people that migrated for work?

Answer 7

Black Americans

Question 8

How many women joined the workforce during WWII?

Answer 8

7 million

Question 9

How many aircraft workers were women?

Answer 9

1 in 3

Question 10

What percentage of munitions workers were women?

Answer 10

50%

Question 11

What did the US GNP increase from in 1940 to in 1950?

Answer 11

• 1940 = $200,000 million
• 1950 = $300,000 million

Question 12

What did WWII help America recover from?

Answer 12

The Great Depression

Question 13

What did Americans use war bonds for?

Answer 13

Cashed in and used money to buy consumer goods

Question 14

What did car sales rise by 1945-50?

Answer 14

Over 6.5 million

Question 15

How much was spent on weapons research & development?

Answer 15

Billions of dollars

Question 16

What type of areas were used for weapons testing?

Answer 16

Desert areas e.g. Arizona & New Mexico

Question 17

What was a result of many businesses following the military to their new bases?

Answer 17

• Investment
• Tech development
• Jobs across the country

Question 18

Why was there a high demand for American goods?

Answer 18

• European nations had been ravaged by war
• High demand at home and abroad

Question 19

What percentage of steel, oil and cars did America produce in the 1940s?

Answer 19

• Steel = 57%
• Oil = 62%
• Cars = 80%

Question 20

When did FDR die and who took over?

Answer 20

• 1945
• VP Truman

Question 21

What kept the US industry busy?

Answer 21

• The Korean War (1950-53)
• The Cold War

Question 22

What was the standard of living for the average American compared to the British in 1960?

Answer 22

American = 3x British

Question 23

What was the wage of an average factory worker by 1959?

Answer 23

$80 per week

Question 24

What are examples of luxuries that became necessities?

Answer 24

- Televisions - Cars - Washing machines - Refrigerators

Question 25

Who moved to the suburbs?

Answer 25

Middle-class families

Question 26

Where was the first suburb?

Answer 26

Levittown on Long Island

Question 27

How were houses reasonably priced?

Answer 27

Through low cost mortgages

Question 28

What did most people have a car for in the suburbs?

Answer 28

To commute into the cities for work

Question 29

Why were the suburbs seen as the best place to raise a family?

Answer 29

They are away from dangerous city life

Question 30

What did the baby boom increase the population by and what impact did this have?

Answer 30

- 40 million - Greater demand for new homes

Question 31

How many people owned homes by 1960?

Answer 31

33 million

Question 32

What became symbols of status?

Answer 32

Owning goods like cars, hi-fi systems or swimming pools

Question 33

What did women who didn't work do to avoid boredom?

Answer 33

Have Tupperware Parties

Question 34

Who did building developers often refuse to sell homes to?

Answer 34

Ethnic minorities

Question 35

What percentage of people still lived below the poverty line in 1959?

Answer 35

29%

Question 36

How was income influenced?

Answer 36

By the area you lived in, those living in the south earned much less than those living in the north or west coast

Question 37

What percentage of New York recipient's of welfare were African Americans in 1955?

Answer 37

40%

Question 38

What was medical care like in the 1950s?

Answer 38

- No national health service - Cost of medical care increased

Question 39

How many families were living off less than $2000 in the 1950s?

Answer 39

11 million

Question 40

What did the USA lag behind many nations in?

Answer 40

- Providing good pensions - Welfare services

Question 41

Why were people living in cities more likely to get sick?

Answer 41

Due to poor living conditions