What impact did World War 2 have on industry and people at home?

Question

What were the effects. This is all for a project and I also need to resarch clothing shortage, combat boats produced instead of shoes; no new construction material; no cars; limited gasoline; heating oil; and sugar, ect. Also, if you find links about the things I need please post them. Best answer gets 11 Points!!!

Answer 1

Wow, you've placed a tall order!

Rationing of almost everything was in full force--you took your ration cards to the grocery store (I think things were priced on a point system, or at least some were--say, 5 points for a can of beans, maybe 15 for a chicken, etc.)--people, even in the cities, often planted "Victory Gardens" to augment their food supplies, and sugar, while it never disappeared from the American diet, was seriously restricted. As for the limited supply of heating fuel (at this time, coal was more common than oil), people dressed warmly and got on with whatever they needed to do.

Gasoline was a resource (like rubber) that was diverted toward the war effort, but the government issued different cards depending on who the drivers were--doctors and farmers had a higher priority when it came to keeping their tanks filled than the average person. In the cities, there was still mass transit, and a lot of people simply walked wherever they could.

Industry turned from producing consumer goods, such as cars, to building ships and planes. No new homes were built, and the clothing industry was under a whole set of regulations as to how much material could be used in manufacturing clothing. Rationing limited most adults to one new pair of shoes per year, and I'm sure childrens' shoes were passed on from child to child until they were completely worn out--they were probably re-heeled and re-soled a number of times before this happened (a shoe repair shop was a staple in most neighborhoods and towns). As a result, shoes using materials other than leather became popular, such as canvas shoes (the birth of the athletic shoe).

In the factories that were now making the aforementioned planes and ships, women were doing the welding, the riveting, and many other jobs that would have been unthinkable prior to our entry into the war. They also took many other nontraditional jobs, such as mass transit drivers (as late as the 1960's there were still a few hardy females who had stuck with the bus and trolley driving they'd begun during the war until retirement!).

There was support for the war effort at all levels--children bought savings stamps that were put into booklets that could be redeemed, when full, for a $25 US Savings Bond, and participated in scrap drives. Volunteerism for such organizations as the Red Cross and the USO was at an all time high.

Of course, there was the down side, too--men returning with lost limbs, blinded, and certainly with severe mental and emotional trauma as well. There were, as in all wars, children who had fathers they never knew because these men had died in Europe or the South Pacific.

Good luck on your report--hope thi is of some help!

Answer 2

at the same time as the adult adult males were at conflict, women individuals did their jobs to keep marketplace going. women individuals also joined the 'land military' and worked (hard) on farms to provide vegetation for nutrition. there have been shortages and contained in the united kingdom human beings had ration playing cards to latest to shopkeepers to make certain they did not get more suitable than the authorities had determined they were entitled to. there changed into of route a thriving black marketplace in rationed products which may be offered in case you should have sufficient money them. You of route have a computing gadget and internet get proper of entry to - the great study equipment ever. because the first answer-er said 11 factors for doing all of your homework? Nein danke.

Answer 3

Here you have some sites that might help you:
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/histryotln/newdeal.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homefront-United_States-World_War_II
http://www.justpacific.com/fiji/fijianart/ww2vl.pdf
http://www.ciaonet.org/wps/gra02/
http://www.stormingmedia.us/08/0876/A087613.html