WW2

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  • Created by: amy
  • Created on: 18-05-21 18:18

WW2

Causes

  • Exporting to Europe- The neutrality Act of 1935 banned the loans to countries at war FDR convinced congress to change this and sell weapons to Britain and France but did not send soldiers
  • The Lend Lease deal- In 1941 America agreed to 'lend' Britain up to $7000 million worth of weapons even though they knew they would never get them back
  • The Cash and carry plan- In 1939 allowed America to sell Britain and France weapons. This provided needed production employment to many
  • Pearl Harbor- 7th December 1941 183 Japanese bombers attacked the US naval port in Hawaii

Effects

  • Unemployment- 4 million found war production jobs by 1941, farmers prospered as they sold food to military and traditional industries prospered as their materials such as coal were needed
  • Women- Before the war women worked in traditional jobs such as teaching but when men went away women filled their places. Between 1940 and 1945 the number of women working rose from 12 million to 19 million. 350,000 women joined the women's armed forces
  • Around 1 million African-Americans fought in the war despite the discrimination in the armed forces there were many examples of segregation such as how when war first broke out black sailors could only work in the kitchens. Black soldiers could also not train as captains although eventually this changed. Black women were permitted to train as nurses even though tthey could only perform on black soilders.

Overall summary

In 1941 just 5.5 million unemployed compared to 10 million just four years before so WW2 was needed to end the depression.

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