America's Experience of the Second World War (AQA GCSE History)
Revision Note
What Impacts did the Second World War have on the USA and its People? - Summary
The Second World War led to an economic boost for the US as factories shifted from producing consumer goods to manufacturing war supplies. This created millions of new jobs. The Second World War helped lift the USA out of the Great Depression.
The Second World War also brought about social changes, particularly for women and minorities. Millions of men left the USA to serve in the military. Women entered the workforce in large numbers to fill essential roles previously held by men. This marked a significant step forward for gender equality in the workplace. Additionally, Black Americans and other minority groups contributed to the war effort. US society recognised the contributions and patriotism of minority communities. This laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement.
The Second World War had profound effects on American society and culture. Rationing and shortages affected daily life. People on the US home front had to change their consumption habits and lifestyles. Different communities in the USA worked together to support the troops and the war effort.
The End of Isolationism
Before the Second World War, the USA followed the foreign policy of isolationism
This was the result of the participation of the US in the First World War
The USA intervened in the First World War in 1917
After the First World War, US politicians voted against President Wilson’s League of Nations to avoid international conflicts
In 1934, Congress ordered a report into how the USA became involved in the First World War
The Nye Committee concluded that the factory owners forced the government to go to war to make huge profits
In response to the Nye Committee, Congress passed the Neutrality Acts of 1935 and 1937
The acts banned the selling of weapons or the giving of loans to any country at war
A series of events and actions ended US isolationism, triggering the USA’s entry into the Second World War:
Exam Tip
Franklin D. Roosevelt is also known as FDR. Either version is acceptable in your exam answers. Whilst there are many abbreviations in this course, it may help in your exam answers to shorten Roosevelt’s name. When writing an answer, write “Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)” once. This will allow you to write “FDR” throughout the rest of your answer.
The War Production Board
In January 1942, the US government created the War Production Board
The War Production Board adapted US industries to war production, including:
The Ford Motor Company converted to making B-24 bombers
The Lionel toy train factory manufactured items for warships
The War Production Board made significant achievements:
To fulfil the needs of US and Allied armed forces, the USA produced:
88,000 tanks (created by the car industry)
300,000 planes
7,333 ships
20 million guns
40 billion bullets
War production significantly helped employment
Unemployment decreased from 1940 to 1943
Millions of women entered the workforce
Economic recovery
Many historians argue that the Second World War did more to support the recovery of the US economy than the New Deal
There is evidence for and against this viewpoint:
Did the Second World War recover the US economy?
Yes | No |
|---|---|
There was an increase in demand for food for the home front and the armed forces. This helped the agricultural industry recover | Domestic industries were changed to focus on the war effort. There were fewer consumer products for people on the homefront to buy |
War production required the traditional industries of coal, steel and iron. These industries saw a boost in demand | By 1944, unemployment was 670,000. This showed the reduction in unemployment was only temporary |
Despite rationing, many US citizens saw an increase in their standard of living | US citizens suffered from shortages in essential products such as shoes and paper |
During the Second World War, tax revenue went up from $4m a year to $42m a year |
Exam Tip
You could be given a question which asks you if the New Deal or the Second World War was the most important reason for the recovery of the US economy
This is a 12-mark question that expects you to refer to these two bullet points and another factor. Ensure you write three paragraphs that:
P - Make a point about the question
E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made
E - Explain why this evidence caused the US economy to recover. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how damaging this factor improved unemployment, industry or living standards in the USA
L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how significant this factor was in creating a poor standard of living for this group
Write a conclusion about which factor you believed was the most important reason why the US economy recovered after the Great Depression Make sure that you consider short- and long-term consequences, importance and impacts in your conclusion.
Women & the Second World War
Women were key to the US war effort during the Second World War
Over 43 million men enlisted in the US armed forces
Women had to fill key roles needed to run US society such as:
Factory work
Bus and train conducting
Firefighting
By 1943, around a third of the workforce were women
Roughly two million women worked in the munitions factories
The Impact of the Second World War on Women
How did the Second World War Benefit Women? | How did the Second World War Disadvantage Women? |
|---|---|
Women had access to skilled jobs that society had previously excluded them from. For example, women could become mechanics. The image of Rosie the Riveter showed what women could achieve | There was still no equal pay in the USA. Women were paid significantly less than men for doing the same job |
Some women served in the armed forces. 150,000 had non-combat roles in the Women’s Army Corps and the United States Naval Women’s Reserve (WAVES). 1,000 women joined the Women Airforce Service Pilot and flew planes to military bases | Women who had children found it very difficult to work both inside and outside the home. Childcare was limited during the war. The Community Facilities Act of 1942 tried to increase childcare facilities. Still, many women could not enter the workplace |
Women who had a paid job had more disposable income. They could buy more products, which improved the economy. They also had more freedom | Women from minority communities struggled to find employment. Those who had jobs faced discrimination in the workplace |
African-Americans & the Second World War
African-Americans hoped that the government would reward their involvement in the Second World War with the passing of civil rights legislation
This aim was ultimately not achieved
The Experience of War for African-Americans
Positive changes to African-Americans | Negative continuities to African-Americans |
One million African-Americans had jobs in wartime factories in the North and West of the USA | The number of African-Americans moving to the North increased racial tensions. Riots in Detroit and Harlem in 1943 resulted in death. In Detroit, over $2 million worth of damage was done to buildings |
African-Americans had access to higher-paying jobs than those available to them before the Second World War | African-Americans were paid significantly less than white Americans for doing the same job. Many African-Americans had to do lower-skilled work and had little opportunity for promotion |
The government passed Executive Order 8802 which banned racial discrimination in the defence industry. Fair Employment Practices Committee investigated violations of Order 8802 | In 1941, Asa Philip Randolph, the leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters trade union, protested against discrimination. His actions achieved the passing of Executive Order 8802. However, the order was weakly enforced, especially in the South |
There was an increase in African-Amercian officers in the armed forces. General Eisenhower succeeded in introducing more integrated military units. Over 1 million black Americans fought in the Second World War | The Marines had no African-Americans in the combat corps. Many white generals did not want to give black soldiers weapons. In addition, no black soldier won a Medal of Honor for their service in the Second World War |
The Second World War began the civil rights movement in the USA. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) created the ‘Double V’ campaign. They wanted to win the war and bring an end to racial discrimination. NAACP membership increased from 40,000 in 1940 to 460,000 in 1946. In 1942 the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was also set up. | Whilst the civil rights movement began, African-Americans in the USA still faced racism. The South continued to treat Black Americans poorly. Many African-Americans had lower-than-average living standards. The legal system continued to treat African-Americans unfairly |
Exam Tip
Many Europeans and Americans called the African-Americans 'coloured'. This is no longer an accepted term. Please do not use 'coloured' to refer to African-Americans in your exam answers. However, as this term is included in the official name of the NAACP, you are permitted to use ‘coloured’ in this context. You may prefer to refer to the organisation by its abbreviation.
Worked Example
In what ways were the lives of Americans affected by the Second World War
[8 marks]
Partial answer:
The Second World War affected the lives of women (1). As 43 million men enlisted in the army, their jobs had to be filled. Millions of women took these jobs, making up one-third of the USA’s workforce (1). This impacted their lives because women had access to skilled jobs that society had previously excluded them from. They could have highly respected, manual jobs like becoming a mechanic (1). Therefore, the Second World War gave women an opportunity to perform technical and important work for the USA. They proved to society that they could be useful outside of the home and keep the USA functioning during the war (1).
Exam Tip
In this style of question, you should aim to have two or three well-explained paragraphs about how the Second World War impacted people’s lives. You should try and focus your paragraphs on different groups of people living in the USA during the Second World War. For example, your second paragraph could focus on the experience of African-Americans.
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