Chapter 25 Notes: Ramifications of World War II

Domestic

1. Economic Expansion -- GNP grows from $100 billion to $210 billion between 1940-1945, national debt from $40 billion to $260 billion.


2. US government budget increased from $9.5 billion to $92 billion between 1940-1945. Tax revenue increased 20-fold. (!)


3. Mass population movement -- 15 million men moved because of military service. 6 million people (mostly from South) moved away from farms to work in urban areas.


4. Growth of Western cities, Sunbelt industrialization. Cities like San Diego (+90%), Albuquerque (+100%), Seattle, Denver, etc. saw huge population increases.


5. Wages increased dramatically - average yearly salary more than doubled between 1940 and 1945; size of middle class also doubled. (!)


6. Organized labor -- union membership increased from 9 million to 15 million during war (35% of nonagricultural employment); unions became more politically conservative.


7. Women in the workforce increased from less than 25% to over 33% between 1940-1945. Large increase in married women working (divorce rate increased from 16% to 27%).


8. Increased African American participation in industrial workforce, civil service -- average yearly salary increased from $457 to $1976. One million African Americans served in armed forces, 7,000 black officers by 1945. Increased self-esteem, educational opportunities for black veterans led to Civil Rights movement.
   
9. Increased opportunities for Native Americans in industry, armed forces (Navajo “code talkers”) -- move away from reservations; established National Congress of American Indians to defend past treaties, reservations.


10. Mexican-Americans -- 350,000 served in Armed Forces (non-segregated units), U.S. government negotiated temporary worker agreement with Mexico.


11. Japanese-Americans -- over 100,000 Japanese, Japanese--Americans confined to “relocation centers”, forced to sell their property at an estimated loss of $2 billion. In effort to show loyalty, 100,000 Japanese-Americans joined army. One Japanese-American combat unit was most decorated in WWII.


12. Homosexuals in the military -- thousands of gay men, women fought in WWII but were often discriminated against. Veteran’s Benevolent Association became first major gay rights organization.


13. Higher Education -- Government spent $14.5 billion between 1945-1956 to send 5.7 million veterans to college, technical schools through the GI Bill.

International

1. Yalta Conference -- The Yalta Conference, sometimes called the Crimea Conference, was the wartime meeting from February 4, to 11, 1945 between the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. Delegations were headed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin, respectively. Made the unconditional surrender of Germany the primary goal of the Allies. Stalin agreed to assist the US in its war with Japan 90 days after Nazi surrender and to recognize Chiang Kai-shek as the legitimate ruler of China. Stalin also agreed to bring the Soviet Union into the U.N., as long as security council members would have veto power. First wartime conference was in Tehran, then Cairo (Roosevelt did not attend), and Yalta.


2. United Nations -- United Nations established in 1945 as a replacement for the League of Nations. Today, five main victors of WWII comprise the Security Council permanent members with veto power: the United States of America, Russia (replaced the Soviet Union), the United Kingdom, France, and the People’s Republic of China (which replaced the Republic of China).


3. Nuremberg Trials (1946-1949) -- international court set up for trials of high level Nazi officials for war crimes, crimes against humanity. Famous convictions -- Hess and Göring.


4. The creation of Israel and an independent Arab state (in the former British colony of Palestine) is endorsed by UN in November 1947. State of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948.


5. Marshall Plan (named after US Secretary of State, George Marshall) 1947-1952. US donated $13 billion for Europe to rebuild (money divided on a per capita basis -- UK, France, Germany, Italy got the bulk).


6. 1947 -- “Truman Doctrine” - calls for the containment of Communism. “the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.”


7. 1948 -- Berlin Blockade - Soviet Union controlled East Germany where Berlin located. Berlin divided into East (Soviet controlled) and West (US, UK, France controlled). To starve out the Western forces, Soviet forces denied passage of supplies over East Germany territory thus blockading W. Berlin. US led a massive airlift of supplies, eventually the Soviets relented.


8. Chinese Revolution (1911-1949) -- Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jie Shi) ruled between 1925-1949 as head of the Guangdong (Nationalist Government). Fought civil war with Communists under Mao Dzedong between 1946-1949. Mao emerged victorious as Guangdong government and army fled to Taiwan allowing the Communist Party to establish the People’s Republic of China.