🗽US History – 1865 to Present Unit 7 – The New Deal & WWII Era (1933-1945)

Key Events and Timeline

• Franklin D. Roosevelt elected as president in 1932 during the Great Depression
• New Deal programs launched in 1933 to provide relief, recovery, and reform
  • First New Deal (1933-1934) focused on immediate relief and stabilization
  • Second New Deal (1935-1938) introduced more long-term reforms and social welfare programs
• World War II began in Europe with Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939
• Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, leading to U.S. entry into WWII
• D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, marked a turning point in the war
• Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender
• World War II officially ended on September 2, 1945, with the signing of the surrender documents

Political Landscape and Leadership

• Franklin D. Roosevelt served as president from 1933 until his death in 1945
  • Elected to an unprecedented four terms due to his popularity and wartime leadership
• Roosevelt's New Deal policies aimed to address the Great Depression through government intervention
• Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady, played a significant role in advocating for social justice and civil rights
• Harry S. Truman became president following Roosevelt's death in April 1945
• Truman made the decision to use atomic weapons against Japan to end World War II
• Political debates emerged over the role of government in the economy and society
• Bipartisan support for the war effort helped unite the country during World War II

Economic Policies and Programs

• New Deal programs aimed to stimulate the economy and provide relief to the unemployed
  • Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) employed young men in conservation projects
  • Works Progress Administration (WPA) provided jobs in construction and the arts
  • Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) provided subsidies to farmers to reduce crop production
• Social Security Act of 1935 established a national pension system and unemployment insurance
• National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) of 1935 protected workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively
• Wartime production boosted the economy and helped end the Great Depression
  • Government contracts and investments in industries such as steel, aircraft, and shipbuilding
• Rationing and price controls implemented to manage wartime shortages and inflation

Social and Cultural Changes

• Great Depression led to widespread poverty, unemployment, and social upheaval
  • Dust Bowl migration of farmers from the Great Plains to California
  • Hoovervilles, shantytowns named after President Hoover, emerged in cities
• New Deal programs provided relief and support for the poor and unemployed
• Labor unions gained strength and influence during the 1930s
• African Americans faced discrimination and segregation, despite contributions to the war effort
  • Executive Order 8802 banned discrimination in defense industries and government employment
• Women entered the workforce in large numbers during World War II (Rosie the Riveter)
• Wartime propaganda promoted patriotism, sacrifice, and unity

International Relations and Diplomacy

• Isolationism dominated U.S. foreign policy in the 1930s
  • Neutrality Acts aimed to prevent U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts
• Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy improved relations with Latin America
• Lend-Lease Act of 1941 provided aid to Allied nations before U.S. entry into WWII
• Atlantic Charter of 1941 outlined Allied goals for the post-war world
• Conferences at Cairo, Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam shaped the post-war international order
  • Creation of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security
• Cold War tensions emerged between the U.S. and Soviet Union in the aftermath of WWII

Wartime Efforts and Strategies

• Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 established the first peacetime draft in U.S. history
• Mobilization of the economy and society for total war
  • Rationing of consumer goods and resources to support the war effort
  • War bond drives to finance the war
• Manhattan Project developed the atomic bomb in secret
• D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, marked a turning point in the war in Europe
• Island-hopping campaign in the Pacific aimed to capture key strategic locations
• Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 led to Japan's surrender

Technological and Scientific Advancements

• Manhattan Project developed the atomic bomb, ushering in the nuclear age
• Radar technology improved detection of enemy aircraft and ships
• Penicillin mass-produced to treat bacterial infections in wounded soldiers
• Advances in aviation, including the development of jet engines and long-range bombers
• Improvements in communication technology, such as two-way radios and early computers
• Synthetic materials, such as nylon and plastics, developed to replace scarce natural resources
• Rocketry advancements laid the foundation for the post-war space race

Legacy and Long-Term Impact

• New Deal programs expanded the role of the federal government in the economy and society
  • Social Security and unemployment insurance became permanent fixtures
• World War II ended the Great Depression and positioned the U.S. as a global superpower
• GI Bill provided education and housing benefits to returning veterans, fueling post-war prosperity
• United Nations established to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars
• Cold War tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union shaped global politics for decades
• Civil rights movement gained momentum in the post-war era, leading to desegregation and voting rights legislation
• Suburbanization and the baby boom transformed American society and culture in the 1950s