WWII

• why did america join the war?

  attack on Pearl Harbor
• what is ironic about america’s involvement in the war?

  most battles were fought in europe so america had the least damage but gained the most from the war
• what ideology did america have up until WWII?

  isolationism
• what is isolationism?

  avoiding involvement in the affairs of other countries
• how many planes were destroyed when Japan attacked pearl harbour?

  177
• how many men were killed at the attack on pearl harbour?

  2000
• how did war fix the American economy?

  there was an increased demand for war time goods which meant that more people were employed to fulfill the production increasing the disposable income of american citizens
• what 3 main areas of american economy was fixed by the war?

  • industries
  • wartime production
  • employment and farmers
• how many new businesses started as a result of the war?

  over 500,000
• what are 2 examples of companies made during war?

  1. coca cola
  2. wrigley
• why was a war bond set up?

  to finance war efforts
• how did americans respond to the war bond?

  they invested money to war bonds as it could be returned with interest
• how did Roosevelt respond to new growing industries?

  he raised taxes
• what is interesting about americas economy post WWII?

  it was the only country to emerge economically stronger from war
• when was the war production board set up?

  1942
• what was the war production board?

  Roosevelt asked industrialists for advice and converted industries from peacetime work to war work
• what percentage of of US contracts went to 100 companies?

  80%
• how many planes were built in 1943?

  86,000
• how many planes were built in 1944?

  96,000
• how many rounds of ammunition were made during WWII in america?

  44 billion
• what percentage of weapons being used during war were produced by america in 1944?

  50%
• when did lend lease begin?

  1941
• what is lend lease?

  the USA would loan war materials to its allies
• how many unemployed americans were there in 1939?

  9.5 million
• how many unemployed americans were there in 1944?

  670,000
• how many employees did general motors hire during the war?

  750,000
• how did farmers rise economically during the war?

  increased demand as the US were exporting food to allies