The 1940s
World War II
Leaders
Another important leader during the war was Adolf Hitler. He became Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and led the country under a dictatorship. Nazi Germany invaded Poland which resulted in Great Britain, France, Australia, Canada, and many other countries to declare war on Germany. This was the beginning of World War II.
Important Allied Leaders included Winston Churchill of Great Britain, Edouard Daladier of France, and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union. Significant Axis Powers Leaders were Benito Mussolini of Italy and Showa Hirohito of Japan.
Franklin Roosevelt
Adolf Hitler
Winston Churchill
Laws
Jim Crow Laws: These laws were widely known as segregation laws in the southern parts of the United States. They went into affect in the 1880s and began to disintegrate during this decade. Factors such as Supreme Court decisions and books led to the end of these hateful laws. The Jim Crow laws became a national embarrassment.
Supreme Court Decisions
Korematsu vs. United States: The War Relocation Authority held the power to remove, maintain, and supervise people who were not living in military areas. This case took place during World War II when the US government relocated Japanese Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of of wartime relocation and confinement.
Timeline of Major World War II Events
September 3, 1939- Britain, France, and other countries declare war on Germany.
May 10-June 22, 1940- Germany successfully invades France defeating the French forces in the Battle of France.
July 10-October 31, 1940- The Battle of Britain was mainly between the Air Forces of both countries. This was the first major campaign to be entirely fought in the air.
December 7, 1941- Japanese forces lead air raid on Pearl Harbor.
December 8, 1941- The United States declares war on Japan.
December 11, 1941- Germany declares war on the United States.
June 6, 1944- Allies successfully invade Normandy to reclaim France. This day is known as D-Day.
April 30, 1945- Hitler commits suicide when the tide of the war changes in favor of the Allies.
May 8, 1945- Germany surrenders to the Allied Forces.
August 14, 1945- Japan surrenders after the United States drop atomic bombs on two Japanese cities.
Technology
There was one major technological advance in the decade. The computer was starting to be drawn up in 1939. The main reason for the computer was for military use only. The first computer was known as an Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC). It was not very useful, so it was improved at Moore School. It was later able to deal with atomic energy and ballistic trajectories. The invention of the computer instigated the technological and scientific advancement in years to come.
The space program was just beginning in the 1940s. Many practice rockets were sent into the sky, but never reached a high altitude because of explosions.
Standard of Living
The depression was still affecting the United States at the beginning of the decade and the unemployment rate was high. After the United States entered World War II, the economy immediately recovered, but resources became limited. Citizens of the United States had to ration goods such as gas, sugar, meat, silk, shoes, nylon, and rubber. Because men had enlisted in the military, it opened doors for women to obtain jobs and advance in society.
Throughout the decade, here are what some items cost:
House- $7,211
Car- $850
Yearly Income- $1,286
Gas- $0.18/gal
Bread- $0.08
Milk- $0.34/gal
Minimum Wage- $0.30/hour
Entertainment
Most movies in the 1940s were based on World War I or World War II. They showed war experiences or plots that actually took place during either war. Examples of movies like these are The Great Dictator, Casablanca, and To Be Or Not To Be. Other popular movies were Oliver Twist, Bambi, Madam Curie, and Rebecca. Significant actors and actresses included Bing Crosby, Loretta Young, James Cagney, and Joan Crawford.
Popular music genres in this decade consisted of Jazz, Swing, Big Band, and Crooners. Music was somewhat put aside duing the war because musicians either went to the war or were on strike. Songs like This Is Your Land, White Christmas, Round Midnight, and God Bless The Child were popular. Important artists were Glenn Miller, Nat "King" Cole, and Frank Sinatra.
Bambi
A famous animated film made by Walt Disney in the 1940s.
Bing Crosby
A prominent actor in the era
Frank Sinatra
A very talented singer in the decade.
Sports
Many athletes played sports for enjoyment rather than the paycheck. Popular sports were basketball, football, boxing, and baseball. Baseball became very prevalent during the decade. The All-American Girls Baseball League was created after the United States entered World War II to provide entertainment for people on the home front. In 1947, a racial barrier was broken when Jackie Robinson signed a major league baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Many other sports followed suit in breaking the barrier.
Popular Athletes Included:
Joe Louis
Ted Williams
Joe Fulks
Joe Louis
A boxer that was known as the first heavy weight champion and held the title throughout the decade
Ted Williams
A very good baseball player and could have been the greatest player in the 1940s. He held the Triple Crown and won MVP twice.
Joe Fulks
He was known as the "Babe Ruth of Basketball." He set a record of 1,389 points and averaging 23.2 points per game. He played for the Philadelphia Warriors.
Lifestyle
Because of the war, women took the place of men in their absence. They worked in factories and tried to get rid of stereotypes placed on women and work to advance in society.
Clothes after the war became more bright and vibrant. Women wore feminine dresses with full skirts and tight waists. They wore comfortable shoes with a low heel. Women wore their hair curled and up and wore a little amount of makeup. Men wore nice shirts tucked into their pants for everyday wear and then wore suits for nice occassions.
Famous People
Walt Disney
He was pioneer and innovator who transformed entertainment industry. Disney created a world of magic and amusement for youth around the globe. He won a total of 22 Academy Awards and was known for his optimism, imagination, and creativity.
Pablo Picasso
Picasso was an influential artist that helped create a type of art called Cubism. Every one of his works were original and aided in the movement of modern art. Some of his famous artworks include Asleep, Blue Nude, and Three Musicians.
John Steinbeck
Steinbeck was an author that pointed out problems with society. He fought for workers' rights and illustrated conditions of migrant workers. He earned the Pullitzer Prize in 1940 for his book The Grapes of Wrath.