World War Two and the US economy
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how the Second World War affected the American economy.
Key learning points
- The USA joined the Second World War in December 1941.
- In the 1930s, Neutrality Acts had kept the USA out of foreign conflicts
- Cash and Carry and Lend Lease involved the US in supplying countries like Britain with wartime supplies.
- Rearmament led to growth in industrial and agricultural production.
- Rearmament led to a significant fall in American unemployment.
Keywords
Neutrality - neutrality involves avoiding involvement in a conflict; this includes not doing anything to help those who are fighting
Lend Lease - Lend Lease was an American policy which involved supplying countries like Britain with wartime supplies free of charge
Arsenal - an arsenal is a building or place where weapons and military equipment are made or stored
Rearmament - rearmament is the process of supplying yourself or others with new weapons to rebuild military strength
GDP - GDP refers to the total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year
Common misconception
The economic impacts of wartime production were confined to weapons manufacturers.
Wartime demand extended to a wide range of goods including weapons, foodstuffs, fuel and raw materials. This led to many sectors of the US economy benefitting from wartime production.
Teacher tip
Ask students to discuss the following questions in pairs: (1) how successful was the WPB at transforming the US economy into an 'arsenal of democracy'? (2) Who benefitted more from rearmament in the USA: foreign countries or Americans themselves?
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word: The group of federal politicians responsible for passing laws in the USA are known as .
Q2.How many American households owned radios by 1940?
Q3.Who broadcasted fireside chats using the radio?
Q4.Which group were targeted for employment by Federal Project Number One?
Q5.What were the impacts of American immigration quotas and tariffs?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1. involves avoiding involvement in a conflict; this includes not doing anything to help those who are fighting.
Q2.Match the words with their definitions.
building or place where military equipment is made or stored
the process of supplying yourself or others with new weapons
the total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year
Q3.What is the name of the American policy which involved supplying countries like Britain with wartime supplies free of charge?
Q4.Match the dates to the correct policy relating to America's involvement in WW2. Write the correct letter in each box.
Neutrality Act bans loans to countries at war
Neutrality Act bans arms sales to countries at war
‘Cash and carry’ allows arms sales to Britain and France
Lend Lease aid for Britain begins
Q5.Which of the statements best describes the impact of WW2 on the American economy?
Q6.Which new industry benefited most from preparations for an Allied offensive in July 1944?
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: World War Two and the US economy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: World War Two and the US economy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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