Saturday, January 4, 2014
The Impact of the Second World War on the USA
We have been talking about Canada for a while, but definitely always with a comparison to the USA in mind. Consider how the war affected the unemployment rate, the GNP, and the gap between the rich and the poor. What is the significance of the Smith Act and the fact that FDR was elected for four consecutive terms--how strong was the federal government going into World War II?
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World War II was a significant historical event that affected the US a lot. During World War II, the unemployment rate decreased and ceased, the GNP rose, and the gap between the rich and the poor became smaller because the rich paid more taxes in order to balance with the poor. The Smith Act and the fact that FDR was elected for four consecutive terms allowed the US to continue with its New Deal and put more people into labor market. The economy of the US grew a lot because of World War II because the US became the firearm producer during wartime. The federal government was pretty strong when going into World War II, but it was based on a huge amount of national debt.
ReplyDeleteWorld War II was one of the most beneficial things to happen to the US in the early 20th century. It was the sole cause for the decrease in American unemployment from 14% to 1.2%, the millions upon millions of jobs to the workforce, including women and a rise in GNP of about $70 billion dollars. The chasm between the rich and poor also decreased dramatically with the top 1% of earners taking in only about 6% of the national income in 1945. The Smith Act was significant as it made threatening to overthrow the US government illegal, strengthening the US as they went to war in Europe. Its also to be said that any president that causes a war is more likely to be reelected (people are more familiar and tend to think having a new president will put them at greater risk).
ReplyDeleteThe significance of the Smith Act that was passed in 1940, “ made it illegal to threaten to overthrow the government of the U.S.A.” The fact that FDR was elected for four consecutive terms is somewhat shocking because he was opposed from both the left and the right. Also, FDR’s New Deal was viewed as “running out of steam and the real economic recovery was more to do with the onset of the Second World War, its achievements should not be minimized.” Going into World War II the federal government was strong under FDR because there was a huge increase in employment and production, the office of war mobilization controlled supplies and rents and there was a huge growth in national debt.
ReplyDeleteThe Smith Act was a law passed that unable anyone on US soil to threaten to over throw the government. The impact the war had on the unemployment rate was in only 4 short years it dropped from 14.6% to 1.2%. This was significant because it gave America confidence in itself and in its President to get the country back on track. These job opportunities also led to the GNP sky rocketing from $91.3 billion in 1939 to $166.6 billion. The reason for all these jobs piping up and unemployment going down was because of the huge amount of firearms being manufactured by all of the companies. There is always two pieces to the puzzle. Although citizens were prospering with jobs and starting to get their life back on track, the government was falling into a deeper debt. In 1941 the debt was at $41 billion and rose to an astonishing $260 billion in a short 4 years.
ReplyDeleteThe Smith Act was passed in order to make sure no one could overthrow the government. The War helped employment rate because it created jobs that consist of providing to the war effort. It gave confidence to the citizens that the economy would be able to restored. Despite being criticized, sticking to his (FDR's) plan, eventually worked in America's favor. And seeing all the progress, people opted to reelect FDR in order to keep the economy prospering. The GNP was increased quite dramatically. The citizens were allowed to prosper, but the government sank into deeper debt because of how much input they put into giving the citizens a better output.
ReplyDeleteObviously as many have already said World War II was a very important event in history. The war decreased unemployment rates and gave new jobs to women, while the gnp rose and the gap between the rich and poor declined. The Smith Act as many have previously said, "made it illegal to threaten to overthrow the government of the U.S.A." which would ultimately mean FDR had a chance to implament his policies more thoroughly. During and going into the war the federal government was very strong because it was producing and supplying most of the weapons for the war.
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ReplyDeleteBy the time of the World War II, the government started controlling much more the lives of the Americans. In fact in 1940, the Smith Act was passed out making illegal to threaten to overthrow the government of the USA. The goods and prizes started also to be a lot more controlled as the war developed.
ReplyDeleteAmerican production of tanks, aircraft, weapons etc increased really really significantly between 1941 and 1945. This way, unemployment ceased really fast and surprisingly since it went from 14.6 percent in 1940 to 1.2 percent in 1944. Women started to be employed to work for the production for war and by the end of the war, 60 percent of women were employed. Same thing basically happened with African-Americans.
In 6 years, the GNP increased considerably from 91.3$ billion to 166.6$ billion.
Although prices rose during the war, basic food such as sugar were controlled and rationed so that everyone could get at least something for their families. Americans' wages and incomes went up during the war time; therefore the gap between poor and rich people stretched basically because of those two reasons.
Therefore as we see the federal government was much stronger going into the war since they changed a lot of things in a positive way thanks to FDR.
Like many other people said, the war took a big toll on the country. The unemployment rate when from 17% to 30% in 1933 and that was all just before the war. Before the war, the gross national product decreased 43%, and exports went down by 50%. Things started to recover very slowly, until the war hit then everything when back down. Also the reason why the Smith Act was passes was so that the US government "made it a criminal offense to advocate violent overthrow of the government or to organize or be a member of any group or society devoted to such advocacy". This act was put in place to help protect FDR from any people in the country who didn't like him as a leader because he had been re-elected for 4 terms, it also prevented the US from going to war with themselves during a time of need during WWII.
ReplyDeleteThe Smith Act made it illegal for anyone to threaten to overthrow the government. The fact that FDR was elected for four consecutive terms is outrageous. For someone to be leading the country for that long definitely says something. This gave FDR the time to truly implicate his New Deal. Under his leadership, the US was able to increase in employment and the economy was getting back up on its feet. However, while the citizens were prospering, the government was falling into debt and the amount rose to $260 billion.
ReplyDeleteAfter I read these readings, I felt it was outrageous that FDR was elected for four consecutive terms is outrageous. For someone to be leading the country for that long definitely says something. During and going into the war the federal government was very strong because it was producing and supplying most of the weapons for the war. .” Going into World War II the federal government was strong under FDR because there was a huge increase in employment and production, the office of war mobilization controlled supplies and rents and there was a huge growth in national debt.
ReplyDeleteamericas economy was on a steady but slow growth upward before world war two. once the war began america took on the role of supplier and gave out money and loans to allied nations. america began financing the allied effort and producing many of its arms and food. this lifted america completely out of its depression. America is capable of such mass production that when the need for America exports exploded so did its economy. FDR was president during these events which is why he is so revered in history he led the way.
ReplyDeleteFDR was a very powerful president serving 4 terms in office. Being in office for that long he has so much power and was able to change so much. Many things he made while in office are still in affect today. Now going into world war 2 it was a lot different from world war 1 because everyone wanted to join and get involved. Like Sifiso said once the war began America was lifted out of the depression and helped many people get jobs and everyone at the time was doing something because after Pearl Harbor everyone wanted to win the war and even little kids were doing what they could to help.
ReplyDeleteThe US was very strong going into World War ll. Well obviously, because they came out on top once again. They won the war which shows how strong they really were. Like Dean said, its outrageous that FDR was in office for 4 straight terms. That shows how good of a president he was and how he really was helping america. No one would want him back in office that many times if he wasnt doing good things for america. Also, they won ww1 with a different president so the fact that they were going into a different war with a new president was probably scary but they knew that they could trust FDR because of how amazing of a president he was. Overall the government was very strong and was prepared for ww2.
ReplyDeleteFDR was a very good president that he was elected 4 times as a president. However, it was the Second World War that brought prosperity back to the USA not the New Deal. When U.S was in World War II, they passed the Smith Act which made it illegal to threaten to overthrow the government of the USA and the Selective Service Act introduced conscription. Plus, not only was Office of War Mobilzation created to control the supply of goods and prices but also the National War Labor Board set wages. Farm income grew by 250 percent and unemployment effectively ceased by 1942 from 14.6 percent to 1.2 percent. Therefore, GNP grew from 91.3 to 166.6 billion. In addition, average wage increased by 40 percent which made the consumers spend more money. It was the spending power of these consumers which helped to fuel the post-war boom period.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone said, World War II brought along many changes for the US, for example after the Smith Act was installed things started looking up for american, more and more people wanted to be in involved in WWII which meant there were more job openings for people , and those job opennigs are what really helped americas economy. WIth the unemployment rate going from 14% to around 1% is such a drastic and important change, one that americans needed badly. A downside to the war was a huge economical debt. FDR tried to attack these economic problems in two different ways, and i think the fact that he was the first president to really have plans an dmake a difference in office is why he served 4 terms.
ReplyDeleteWWII certainly did a lot of good to the U.S. Not only it was a winning country with low casualty, but the economy was out of the depression completely because of the war. The unemployment rate was dropped from 14% to 1% because the need of firearm industries. Also all the men are out at war, a lot of women started to work. WWII is the biggest factor of America walking out of the depression. I don't think I should to re-state the stats from the reading like other people did. It is there. I think the federal government was one of the strongest government in the war.
ReplyDeleteWhile World War 2 caused pain all around the world, it definitely brought prosperity back to the U.S. The war effect US both economically and politically. The dramatic decay in unemployment rate and the rapid growth in GDP were tributes to the war time economy. Even the minority such as women and african americans in the country climbed up in their employment rate. Ample amounts of weapon export pushed US economy to its boom. The government also narrowed down the economy gap between the rich and the poor by taxing the highest earner 94% of their income. Politically, the federal government passed the Smith act which fasten their authority over other foreign political influence such fascism and communism. The creation of Office of War Mobilization also set limits on supply of goods and prices. All these new acts did not only prepare US for the war time, but also emphasized the effectiveness of direct government intervention.
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