Topic 6, Lesson 9: What was the impact of WW2 on the US home front?

Topic 6, Lesson 9: What was the impact of WW2 on the US home front?

WW2 Political Effects

Government intervention in people’s lives increased more during the Second World War than it did during Roosevelt’s New Deal.

The Smith Act (1940)

Made it illegal to threaten to overthrow the government.

Originally, the Smith Act was aimed at supporters of fascism but this later extended to communism supporters also.

The Selective Service Act (1940)

Introduced conscription

Officer of War Mobilisation

Controlled the supply of goods and prices

National War Labour Board

Set wages

Office of Scientific Research and Development

Mobilised thousands of scientists to develop new methods of death

The Office of Scientific Research and Development coordinated the Manhattan Project (development of the atomic bomb)

The Office of Price Administration and Civilian Supply

Set up in August 1941

To control inflation

Froze prices to prevent inflation

Eventually, items such as petrol, tyres, coffee, sugar and other foodstuff were rationed

Almost 90% of food items were subject to price controls

Topic 6, Lesson 9: What was the impact of WW2 on the US home front?

WW2 Economic Effects

Economically, the Second World War played a much greater role in economic recovery than the New Deal.

In 1941, there were still 9 million people out of work.

Between 1941 and 1945, the US produced 86,000 tanks, 296,000 aircraft and 15 million rifles.

Farm income grew by 250%

Unemployment effectively ceased; in 1944, it stood at 1.2%.

In 1944 alone, 6.5 million women entered the labour workforce.

By the end of the war, almost 60% of women were employed.

The number of African Americans working for the federal government increased from 50,000 in 1939 to 200,000 in 1944.

Between 1940 and 1944, the ‘Great Migration’ intensified with 5 million African Americans moving to the cities.

National debt stood at $41 billion in 1941.

National debt rose to $260 billion by 1945.

The federal government spent twice as much between 1941 and 1945 as it had in 150 years before.

The social gap between the rich and the poor narrowed.

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