USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR I

[SOURCES]
What happened to wages in most industries during World War I?

(A) Corporations saw a decrease in profits.

(B) Women received equal pay for equal work.

(C) ** Hourly wages for blue-collar workers rose.

(D) African Americans received equal pay for equal work.

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -At the height of the war, women comprised 4 percent of skilled workers. In 1944, skilled female workers made an average weekly wage of $31.21 while skilled male workers earned $54.65 weekly.

Concept note-2: -Despite efforts of the National War Labor Board, the shortage of labor during World War II caused sharp increases in wages. Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers in manufacturing more than doubled between 1940 and 1949, with the largest increases during the war years, 1940-44.

Concept note-3: -The war brought full employment and a fairer distribution of income. Blacks and women entered the workforce for the first time. Wages increased; so did savings. The war brought the consolidation of union strength and far-reaching changes in agricultural life.

Concept note-4: -Which of these was a result of America’s participation in World War II? Both women and African-Americans won new job opportunities after the war.