World War Two and the US economy
I can explain how the Second World War affected the American economy.
World War Two and the US economy
I can explain how the Second World War affected the American economy.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The USA joined the Second World War in December 1941.
- In the 1930s, Neutrality Acts had kept the USA out of foreign conflicts
- Cash and Carry and Lend Lease involved the US in supplying countries like Britain with wartime supplies.
- Rearmament led to growth in industrial and agricultural production.
- Rearmament led to a significant fall in American unemployment.
Keywords
Neutrality - neutrality involves avoiding involvement in a conflict; this includes not doing anything to help those who are fighting
Lend Lease - Lend Lease was an American policy which involved supplying countries like Britain with wartime supplies free of charge
Arsenal - an arsenal is a building or place where weapons and military equipment are made or stored
Rearmament - rearmament is the process of supplying yourself or others with new weapons to rebuild military strength
GDP - GDP refers to the total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year
Common misconception
The economic impacts of wartime production were confined to weapons manufacturers.
Wartime demand extended to a wide range of goods including weapons, foodstuffs, fuel and raw materials. This led to many sectors of the US economy benefitting from wartime production.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: World War Two and the US economy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: World War Two and the US economy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the USA New Deal and WW2: how far did the American economy recover? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
building or place where military equipment is made or stored
the process of supplying yourself or others with new weapons
the total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year
Neutrality Act bans loans to countries at war
Neutrality Act bans arms sales to countries at war
‘Cash and carry’ allows arms sales to Britain and France
Lend Lease aid for Britain begins