After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941, the United States entered in the World War II (WWII). Active duty was served mostly by men, but for the first time women were also granted the right to serve. Wartime measures went into effect immediately, so all factories and production had to be repurposed for military needs: production of tanks, military vehicles, aircrafts, weapons, and service ammunition.
World War II had a great impact on the social and economic life of the United States. The country was still recovering from the Great Depression, and the workforce issue was sensitive because of the extremely high unemployment rate. Due to involvement of the US into the WWII, production had to be enforced and expanded, so the rate of unemployment has sufficiently dropped in no time. The economic changes in the early 1940s “were marked by frequent exploitation of the cost-plus-fixed-fee defense contract with the government; large tax concessions to business; …neglect of small business in the allocation of defense work (the arrangement whereby large firms subcontracted work to small hardly existed yet)” (Vatter 6).
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"The Social and Economic Effects of the Second World War on the United States".
Warfare bought changes to the normal lifestyle of the US citizens, and had to alter the rhythm of their lives. According to K. O’Brien, “Americans, young and old, male and female, of every hue and religious persuasion, were asked to put aside their traditional competition for jobs and stream into factories that now, for the first time in a generation, employed almost everyone” (O’Brien et al. 3). The economic system of the United States was given a boost, so it lead to continuous economic growth that made a great difference compared to the previous years.
The American society was at low-morale and depressed state, and economy was in shambles, but “the war brought a resurgence of optimism after enormous hardships of the 1930s” (Winkler 2). World War II brought some trivial social changes, for example, in fashion and mobility (caused by urbanization). Besides, several major social changes occurred during the years of war, for example, the rise of patriotism. One of the most prominent social changes was that women, minority members and African Americans were given better positions and attitude, as their inputted efforts made a big difference in the industrial sector. Americans demonstrated their desire to change the conventional way of life, and confronted their government and authorities to improve and to embrace the new democratic values and ideals. During the early 1940s, feminist movement emerged, challenging the authorities that tried to prevent women from performing their patriotic duty. Social stereotypes of femininity and masculinity regarding the workplaces and job opportunities had vanished, giving the way to decisive and strong-willed women. As M. McEuen describes, “Washington war agencies, Madison Avenue advertising offices, and Main Street America promoted images of ideal womanhood to circumvent the dramatic social and cultural changes afoot on the home front” (McEuen 1).
To conclude, World War II had a crucial impact on the United States, affecting its economy and society, and bringing changes into the common practices of the Americans. Social changes during the years of war resulted in bringing up the issue of rights of women, minorities and African Americans. The fight for their rights and the necessity of the workforce led to expansion of their rights, change of their social roles and employment opportunities. Gender and racial discrimination were no longer an issue because of the rise of production needs. As a result, everyone had an opportunity to help the country in any way possible. World War II brought the rise of patriotism. The years of warfare brought a boost to the U.S. economy, making the depressed economy to grow and prosper. It got sufficiently stimulated, bringing the period of depression to the end.
- O’Brien, K. P., Parsons, L. H. The Home-Front War: World War II and American Society. Wesport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1995. Web. 25 April 2017.
- McEuen, M. A. Making War, Making Women: Femininity and Duty on the American Home Front, 1941 – 1945. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press. Web. 25 April 2017.
- Vatter, H. G. The U.S. Economy in World War II. New York: Columbia Press University, 1985. Web. 25 April 2017.
- Winkler, A. M. Home Front U.S.A: America during World War II. 2nd ed. Wheeling, IL: Harlan Davidson, 2000. Web. 25 April 2017.
