United States History: 1877 to the Present

The United States Since World War II

USII.7

The student will The student will demonstrate knowledge of the economic, social, and political transformation of the United States and the world between the end of World War II and the present by

a) describing the rebuilding of Europe and Japan after World War II, the emergence of the United States as a superpower, and the establishment of the United Nations;
b) describing the conversion from a wartime to a peacetime economy;
c) identifying the role of America’s military and veterans in defending freedom during the Cold War, including the wars in Korea and Vietnam, the Cuban missile crisis, the collapse of communism in Europe, and the rise of new challenges;
d) describing the changing patterns of society, including expanded educational and economic opportunities for military veterans, women, and minorities.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

Begin the unit by asking students what contributed to the prosperity of Americans following World War II.
Explain that following World War II, Americans prospered due to an expanding economy stimulated by America's involvement in the war.
Discuss the reasons for rapid growth of American economy following World War II, including the following information:

With rationing of consumer goods over, businesses converted from production of war materials to consumer goods.
Americans purchased goods on credit.
The workforce shifted back to men, and most women returned to family responsibilities.
Labor unions merged and became more powerful; workers gained new benefits and higher salaries.
As economic prosperity continued and technology boomed, the next generation of women re-entered the labor force in large numbers.

Explain to students that World War II had a major impact on the United States economy. Remind students that before World War II the world suffered from an economic depression. Wartime production corrected this problem in the U.S. and stimulated a healthy economy. This economic improvement continued after the soldiers returned home, took jobs, and started spending.
Have students examine a set of statistics that demonstrates the impact of World War II on the United States economy. This sample set of statistics is taken from the Digital History Web site at http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/us35.cfm. These statistics give numbers for Distribution of Family Income, Labor Force Participation, Average Earnings, and Personal Savings.
Prompt student thinking by asking the following questions for student discussion, either in small groups or as a whole class:

What impact did WWII have on women's participation in the workforce?
What information can be gathered from the statistics regarding the economic health of the average family?
What are some possible explanations for the decrease in personal savings over the course of the 1940s?
How does the information in the text refute or confirm the statistical information?

WEB SITES

http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/
World War II provided by PBS

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook45.html
Resources on World War II

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/libraryarchives/ww2guide/
Resources on World War II in the archives of the Wisconsin Historical Society

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/
Achievements of General Douglas MacArthur

http://my.execpc.com/~dschaaf/mainmenu.html
Attack on Pearl Harbor

http://www.jmu.edu/madison/center/main_pages/teacher/curriculum/chap12.htm
Unit on World War II

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/wwii/wwii.htm
World War II documents

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