USA Topic Three - Impact of the New Deal and WW2 on the USA 1938-1945 Flashcards
(143 cards)
1
Q
What percentage of Americans were out of work in 1939?
A
17.2%
2
Q
What type of issues did the main deal usually focus on?
A
Domestic issues
3
Q
What proportion of Americans received some form of government relief in 1939?
A
1/5
4
Q
When was The Roosevelt Recession?
A
1937-1938
5
Q
How many people lost their jobs during The Roosevelt Recession?
A
Nearly 4 million
6
Q
What did Industrial production fall by during The Roosevelt Recession?
A
33%
7
Q
Between 1935 and 1943 how did the workers of the WPA impact the infrastructure in America?
A
built:
- 2,500 hospitals
- 5,900 schools
- 350 airports
- 570,000 miles of road
- 8,000 parks
8
Q
Men dominated politics up until when?
A
1933 - FDR’s New Deal changed this
9
Q
Between 1930 and 1940 the number of women in work increased to what?
A
1930 - 10.7 million women worked
1940 - 12.5 million women worked
10
Q
Which alphabet agency employed women?
A
The CCC - ‘She, She, She Camps’
11
Q
Which woman championed for the positions of women and ethnic minorities?
A
Eleanor Roosevelt
12
Q
How did Eleanor Roosevelt keep in touch with the people?
A
- through letters
- through her ‘My Day’ newspaper article
13
Q
Who did Eleanor Roosevelt meet to support civil rights leaders?
A
the head of the NAACP
14
Q
What was Eleanor Roosevelt’s approval rating compared to her husbands?
A
she had a high approval rating of 67%, compared to her husband’s 58%
15
Q
Who are the two other examples of women who show advancements for women in the 1930s?
A
- Frances Perkins, First Woman Cabinet Minister
- Mary McLeod Bethune, Activist
16
Q
What did Frances Perkins do to make her significant in the advancements of women?
A
- crafted the Social Security Act
- helped pass a minimum wage for workers in 1938
17
Q
What did Mary McLeod Bethune do to make her significant in the advancements of women?
A
- founded her own civil rights organisation
- championed for black American youth and the right of black American workers
18
Q
By 1940, what was the unemployment rate?
A
14.6%
19
Q
By 1940 what was the economic state of America?
A
- Europe was at war
- the US had experienced a partial economic recovery
20
Q
In 1939 the top corporations controlled what percent of all income generated by business, and what did this mean for the US?
A
- 84.5%
- US economic power was still in the hands of big corporations
21
Q
What can be concluded about the impact of the New Deal on unemployment in the US?
A
- the new deal was a failure in solving unemployment but it led way for WW2 to grow the economy
22
Q
What can be concluded about the impact of the New Deal on infrastructure in the US?
A
- the new deal didn’t solve the economic problems but it did transform the country
23
Q
What can be concluded about the impact of the New Deal on the overall economy in the US?
A
- the new deal halted the economic depression
- full recovery only happened due to WW2 when the SU became a major source of wartime production
24
Q
What proportion of the US population did black Americans make up?
A
10%
25
What was The Great Migration?
1 million black Americans moved north
26
When was The Great Migration?
1920s and 1930s
27
What were areas of housing for the black community called, e.g. Harlem?
ghettos
28
What happened to the jobs of ethnic minorities during the depression era?
- the poorly paid, menial jobs belonging to ethnic minorities were now being taken by white Americans who were recently unemployed
29
How did the NRA work against black Americans?
allowed for black Americans to be paid less than white Americans
30
How did the AAA work against black Americans?
didn't support share croppers - small farmer who were usually black
31
How did the CCC work against black Americans?
CCC camps were racially segregated
32
How did the WPA offer hope for black Americans?
- WPA provided work for 350,000 black Americans
- 250,000 black Americans were taught how to read and write by the WPA, opening up new employment avenues
33
In conclusion what impact did the New Deal have on black Americans?
- by the end of the New Deal, FDR had done nothing to end legal segregation
- black Americans remained second class citizens
34
How many Native Americans were there at the start of the New Deal?
330,000
35
When did all Native Americans become US citizens?
1924
36
What was quality of life like for Native Americans?
- poor quality of life
- nomadic lifestyle (moved around the country)
37
When was The Indian Reorganisation Act?
1934
38
What was The Indian Reorganisation Act known as?
the 'Indian New Deal'
39
What did The Indian Reorganisation Act encourage?
- encouraged Native American culture rather than the former policy of assimilation
40
What did The Indian Reorganisation Act propose?
- Native Americans would be organised into self-governing bodies
- elected tribal council
- an independent legal system
41
How did many tribes respond to The Indian Reorganisation Act, and why?
- many tribes rejected the act
- they did not want more government interference in their lives
42
What conclusion can be drawn about how The New Deal impacted on Native Americans?
- little difference was made to the position of Native Americans within the US economy
- the New Deal did nothing to improve their economic plight
43
What percentage of Hispanic-American children were educated in segregated schools?
- 90%
- their teachers did not speak Spanish
44
How many Hispanic-Americans were sent to Mexico during the depression?
400,000
45
What was the standard of living like for Hispanic-Americans?
- lived in poor, temporary accommodation
- 90% of Hispanic-American children were educated in segregated school
- racial discrimination was widespread
46
What New Deal legislation did not help migrant workers?
- NIRA
- Wagner Act
- Fair Labour Standards Act
47
How did the AAA (1933) impact on Hispanic-Workers?
- fewer workers were required
- consequently, many Hispanic workers lost their income
48
What conclusion can be drawn about how the New Deal impacted Hispanic-Americans?
- it can be argued that the New Deal actually made their lives worse
49
Up until what year was the US armed forces segregated on racial lines?
1948
50
When did the US enter WW2?
1941
51
How many black American soldiers were there in the military 1941?
fewer than 4,000
52
How many black American officers were there in the military in 1941?
only 12
53
By the end of the war, how many black American soldiers were in the forces?
21.2 million
54
Why did black American soldiers serve in non-combat roles once they were accepted into the forces?
- many politicians believed that black Americans would perform poorly in combat roles
- black Americans faced racial discrimination in the armed forces
55
What are two examples of military groups composed only of ethnic minorities?
- Navajo Code Talkers (Native American group)
- Tuskegee Airmen (black American group)
56
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour (1941), what happened to the Japanese-American population?
- they forced to leave their homes and were re-located to the internment camps in the desert areas of the West
57
How many Japanese-Americans were moved?
400,000
58
Where did the most serious Race Riots occur in 1943?
- Detroit
- Michigan
- LA
59
Why did the 1943 Race Riots occur?
- black Americans still faced discrimination despite WW2 bringing an end to discrimination in defence industries
60
What did the Double 'V' Campaign mean?
- victory abroad and victory at home
61
What did the Double 'V' Campaign do?
- encouraged black Americans to fight racial discrimination by serving in the armed forces
- encouraged black Americans to campaign against racial discrimination in the workplace
62
How did the media help the Double 'V' Campaign?
- it was encouraged in newspapers and magazines
- it received help from white Hollywood stars
63
Between 1941 and 1945 how did the overall economic performance of the USA change?
- The government were now more responsible for the economy
- America became the global economic power
- 1941-1945: National Income, wealth and industrial production more than doubled
- 1940: GNP was $99.7 million, 1945: GNP was $211 million
64
Between 1941 and 1945 how did unemployment in the USA change?
- 1933: 12.8 million (25% unemployed)
- 1940: 8.1 million (14.6%) unemployed
- 1945: 1 million (1.9%) unemployed
65
How did conscription effect unemployment in the USA?
- conscription helped to solve unemployment by recruiting nearly 12 million men
66
How did WW2 effect unemployment in the USA?
- the war created 17 million new jobs with wages rising around 30%
67
Between 1941 and 1945 how did women and the War change in the US?
Women experienced great advancements during the war
68
How many women served in WW2?
350,000 - largely on the home front
69
How many women entered work for the first time during the war?
six million
70
How were women's advancements in work limited during the war years?
- their pay and works rights were often limited
- had to meet unrealistic expectation to 'prove' their 'worth'
- women faced sexual harassment in the work place
71
Between 1941and 1945 how did young people and the war change in the US?
- 16-18 year olds were not old enough to be conscripted, served on the home front
- young people played a key role in Civil Defence
72
How many young people became members of the American Red Cross?
- 20 million
73
Between 1933 and 1945 how did trade unions change in the US?
- trade unions grew in power from 1933-1945
74
How did trade union membership increase from 1930 to the end of the war?
- 1930 -- unions had 3.2 million members (11.6%)
- 1945 -- unions had 14.3 million members (35.5%)
75
When did major strikes become an issue?
- after the war (from 1942)
76
How did the number of people living in large towns increase from 1940-1950?
- 53 million in 1940
- 63 million in 1950
77
How many people moved permanently because of the war?
15 million
78
How many Black Americans left the Old South in a continuation of the Great Migration of the 1920s and 30s?
700,000
79
In 1940 what percentage of families living in rural areas lived in poverty?
- just under half of all white families
- 90% of black families
80
Why did people relocate to urban areas?
- allowed for them to have an improved quality of life (better access to work, education, housing and healthcare)
- people followed the promise of 'The American Dream'
81
What was the most significant example of new industry in the USA during the war?
- the development of the atomic bomb
82
How much did the Manhattan Project cost?
$2 billion
83
How many people did The Manhattan Project employ?
more than 100,00 people
84
What was the largest single section of the war economy?
- aircraft production
- employed a large number of Americans (2 million)
85
By 1944, how much had the US government spent on the war?
$90 billion
86
What is the evidence that The New Deal brought America out of the great Depression?
- The Emergency Banking Act (1939) reformed the banks and restored trust in them amongst the people
- The New Deal promoted trade union membership at the same time as allowing the continuing development of large corporations
- The Social Security Act of 1935 provided pensions and unemployment benefits -- this was the foundations of a Welfare State and offered relief to many
- The New Deal showed that the federal government would now intervene in the national economy
- the WPA employed 1/5 of America's workforce during its existence
- the Glass Steagall Banking Act (1933) separated commercial and investment banking which helped to protect the stock market
- the 1935 Wagner Act gave Trade Unions basic rights and banned companies from sacking trade union members
87
What is the evidence that World War Two brought America out of the great Depression?
- the war created 17 million new jobs, with the average wage rising by 30%
- by the end of the war 35.5% of the workforce were members of trade unions
- the 'Cash and Carry' programme
- FDR signed a bill from Congress increasing the US navy at a cost of $4 billion
- 1940 -- nine million were out of work
- 1943 -- 780,000 unemployed
- 18 million women were employed to help the war effort
88
When was the Office of War Information created?
1942
89
What did the WPA stand for?
Work's Progress Administration
90
What did the WPA do in 1933?
Government began production of public art
91
What had the WPA done by 1937?
thousands of artists had created more than 15,000 individuals pieces of art
92
How many people did the WPA employ by 1937?
6,600
93
What did the WPA start in 1935?
the Federal Writers Project (FWP)
94
What did the FWP aim to offer?
Employment to out-of-work teachers, librarians and writers
95
What help was given in 1935 under the WPA Music Programme?
- help was given to unemployed musicians
| - the WPA sponsored many New York City musical groups
96
How many compositions did the FMP fund in four years?
over 7,000
97
How many people attended FMP funded concerts?
FMP funded concerts were performed in front of over 148 million people
98
How did the FMP impact minorities?
Gave under-represented groups e.g. black Americans, women and Hispanics the chance to play music
99
How did the FMP aid the poor and under privileged?
offered low cost or free concerts to the poor and under privileged
100
When and how was the Fair Employment Practises Commission created?
- six months after the US entered WW2 FDR signed Executive Order 8802 - creating the Fair Employment Practises Commission
101
What did the Fair Employment Practises Commission do?
- this order outlawed racial discrimination based on colour or national origin
- gave black Americans opportunities for employment
- helped encourage further migration from the Old South to the northern cities associated with war production i.e. Detroit
102
How did migration of black Americans impact them?
living conditions were overcrowded and many black Americans were forced to live in segregated housing areas
103
What was the impact of employers being forced to take on black workers?
usually gave black American workers low wages and menial jobs
104
How did white and black workers see their wages rise?
- white workers saw their average wage rise 60% during the war
- black workers only saw a 40% rise in their average wage
105
What did FDR to the Fair Employment Practises Commission in 1943?
FDR strengthened the power of the FEPC with Executive Order 9346 - increased the FEPC's budget by $500,000
106
By 1945 what impact had the FEPC had?
1945 - 8% of defence jobs were held by black Americans
| Start of the war - 3% of defence jobs were held by black Americans
107
What happened to the Fair Employment Practises Commission in 1946?
Congress decided to end the FEPC
108
Until 1933 what was politics like?
men dominated politics
109
What changed women's role in politics?
- FDR's New Deal changed the fact that men dominated politics
- women were employed in the government
110
How did the amount of women in work change from 1930 - 1940?
1930 - 10.7 million women worked
| 1940 - 12.5 million women worked
111
What alphabet agency positively impacted women?
CCC employed women - 'she, she, she'
112
Why was Eleanor Roosevelt important in the progression of women and ethnic minorities?
- championed the positions of women and ethnic minorities - regularly met with the leader of the NAACP
- supported civil rights leaders
- believed women should be involved in government
- encouraged FDR to appoint women
113
How did Eleanor Roosevelt keep in contact with people?
- letters
| - her 'My Day' newspaper article
114
How do we know Eleanor Roosevelt was popular?
Had an approval rate of 67% compared to her husband's 58%
115
Who was the first woman cabinet minister?
Frances Perkins - Secretary of Labour 1933
116
Why was Frances Perkins important in female advancement?
- crafted the Social Security Act
- seen by many as the New Deal's most important act
- helped to pass a minimum wage for workers in 1938
117
Who was Mary McLeod Bethune?
- an activist
- founded her own civil rights organisation
- helped plan priorities for black Americans
- championed black American youth and the rights of black American workers
118
When did the US government create the Office of War Information?
1942
119
What was the aim of the Office of War Information?
aimed to communicate the government's views on war
120
How did wartime propaganda begin?
propaganda posters appeared across the US
121
The Office of War Information (OWI) created which character to appeal to women throughout the war?
Rosie the Riveter encouraged women to participate in war industries
122
The slogan 'loose lips sink ships' was created to warn against what?
posters with propaganda slogans were created to warn against spies and spreading gossip
123
What battle occurred in 1945 that featured in a nationwide government advertising campaign?
The Battle of Iwo Jima
124
How was propaganda used negatively by the US government?
It was used to demonise the enemy
125
The US possessed a powerful propaganda weapon in which industry?
Hollywood
126
In 1941, actor Gary Cooper won an Oscar for what role?
His portrayal of Sergeant York, a fictional US soldier who captured German POW's in WW1
127
Director John Ford was hired to do what?
The US government employed him to make films about the naval war in the Pacific
128
What part of the army did several Hollywood stars volunteer and join up to?
the Air Force
129
What % of Hollywood actors joined up to the war?
12%
130
What % of all Hollywood employees fought in the war?
25%
131
Which major company became involved in the propaganda effort in 1942?
Disney - dressed its most popular marines in magazines
132
Why was Hollywood a powerful tool for the US government?
It was very effective in raising morale, explaining US war aims and supporting government programmes
133
Which two agencies were established by the Office of War Information to supervise Hollywood, and when?
- The Bureau of Motion Pictures
- The Bureau of Censorship
- 1942
134
What was the role of The Bureau of Motion Pictures?
produced educational films
135
What was the role of The Bureau of Censorship?
Oversaw the export of Hollywood films to neutral countries - they ensured that negative views of the USA were not depicted
136
When was the power of the radio first highlighted?
through FDR's fireside chats
137
Radio stations broadcast a series of talks called what in 1941?
'Speaking of Liberty'
138
What was an example of one of the talks broadcast in 1942?
'You can't do business with Hitler'
139
Why did the US Treasury sponsor many radio shows?
US Treasury sponsored many radio shows where war bonds were sold in ad breaks
140
What became increasingly popular in dealing with wartime issues?
Sitcoms were popular and were used to deal with wartime issues
141
What was the most popular style of music throughout the war years?
Swing
142
What methods were used as part of the government's plans to ensure that troops received effective moral support?
- musical entertainment
- regular mail
- decent food
143
What band leader joined the army?
Glenn Miller and his band toured European battlefields - he died while travelling to entertain US troops
