This key facts covers WW2 Economic Impact — Key Facts within WW2 and Post-War Boom for GCSE History. Revise WW2 and Post-War Boom in America 1920-1973 for GCSE History with 12 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 2 of 14 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📊 WW2 Economic Impact — Key Facts
| Statistic | Significance |
|---|---|
| Unemployment: 14% → 1.2% | WW2 ended Depression — war production created full employment |
| 17 million new jobs | Factories ran 24/7 producing war materials |
| 6 million women in workforce | "Rosie the Riveter" — women proved they could do "men's jobs" |
| 1 million Black Americans served | Fought segregated but returned expecting equality — "Double V" campaign |
| GI Bill (1944) | 8 million veterans got free college + cheap home loans → middle class boom |
| US GDP doubled | From $100B (1940) to $200B (1945) — emerged as world's richest nation |
Practice questions for WW2 and Post-War Boom
What happened to unemployment in America during World War Two?
Executive Order 9066, signed in February 1942, authorised the internment of which group of people?
Quick recall flashcards
What was the GI Bill?
1944 — free college education + cheap home loans for 8 million veterans
What was Levittown?
Mass-produced suburban community — symbol of post-war prosperity; 1.4 million homes built; but racially segregated (Black families excluded)