USA HISTORY

In the United States, one result of World War II was that

(A) Americans became increasingly isolated from the rest of the world

(B) minorities were granted full civil rights

(C) industrial wages decreased

(D) ** the number of women in the work force increased

Concept note-1: -World War II changed both the type of work women did and the volume at which they did it. Five million women entered the workforce between 1940-1945.

Concept note-2: -More than six million women took wartime jobs in factories, three million volunteered with the Red Cross, and over 200, 000 served in the military.

Concept note-3: -During the Second World War, women proved that they could do “men’s” work, and do it well. With men away to serve in the military and demands for war material increasing, manufacturing jobs opened up to women and upped their earning power. Yet women’s employment was only encouraged as long as the war was on.

Concept note-4: -Over six million women joined the workforce by the end of the war, and by 1945, they made up almost 37 percent of the workforce, up from only 27 percent in 1940.

Concept note-5: -Prior to World War II, women were mostly homemakers. Those that worked outside the home usually worked as secretaries, receptionists or department store clerks. Once America entered World War II, however, men went off to war by the millions and women stepped into the civilian and military jobs they left behind.