Wartime Prosperity? A Reassessment of the U.S.

Economy in the 1940s

The great depression that struck America in 1929 to 1940 was called the greatest depression that
made America almost bankrupt. This depression is very disturbing American economic life.
Many banks and industries that close this result in increased unemployment
Fiscal year Non-defense field Defense worker Unemployed Labor
worker people
1940 82.4 1.8 15.7 17.6
1941 79.4 8.5 12.0 20.6
1942 67.3 25.7 7.0 32.7
1943 57.6 39.4 3.0 42.4
1944 58.4 40.3 1.3 41.6
1945 59.5 39.2 1.3 40.5
1946 88.5 8.9 2.6 11.5
1947 90.9 5.3 3.8 9.1
1948 90.9 5.3 3.9 9.1
1949 88.4 5.2 6.4 11.6

and coupled with the absence of assistance from the government. The depression in America is
caused by many factors from economic factors such as industry, stock market and declining
purchasing power and from non-economic factors such as the political situation and the effects of
World War 1 and the long-term impact on American economic life.
Business activity is hampered and industry is difficult to develop due to fall of stock market
caused by lack of investment in America which resulted in many emergence of unemployment.
Until the gross national product originally $ 104 billion in 1929 fell to $ 76.4 billion in 1933. But
since Roosevelt became president of the United States, he has made various policies, one of
which is the New Deal policy to reduce the number of unemployed and formed government
emergency aid is to provide assistance to hundreds of people. We agree with this New Deal
policy because the New Deal's policy of making successful raises production and prices to reach
a better level despite the depression but with the renewal of the new conspiracy policy can help
more unemployed by creating new jobs and provide additional skills to unemployment and
create new laws that result in the recovery of the US economy, if president Roosevelt does not
propose this idea then the industry, agriculture, the American economy is still depressed and
people are only able to meet food needs, but because the policy this United States can rise slowly
from the time of its economic crisis. While there is a dispute between America and Japan, in the
tensions that Americans feel about the development of European wars Japan seems to have taken
the opportunity to strengthen its strategic position. In the case of America and Japan we stand for
America because America wants peace by means of economic cooperation between nations, free
from war, and poverty and not using weapons in implementing foreign policy. While Japan
remains ambitious to be the ultimate powerholder in the entire Pacific Ocean by taking the
opportunity when America is in anxious period against the development of the European war,
with Japan succeeding in occupying some areas makes the Americans feel unacceptable because
Japan is like taking advantage of the aid given America with expanding their territory. America
also freeze Japan's assets in America by isolating Japan's crucial need for oil, soon after Japan
sent its diplomatic envoy to America to negotiate on the matter but there was no agreement in the
negotiations, shortly after the Japanese negotiations attacked the American military base , Pearl
Harbor in Hawaii. And finally the United States declared war against Japan. Due to the Pearl
Harbor incident and the fear of espionage from Asian citizens, the American people take action
called non-tolerance action: the exile of Japanese Americans. In February 1942, nearly 120,000
Japanese Americans were sequestered behind a barbed wire fence in a pitiful temporary shelter
but were transferred to a relocation center in a remote Southwestern town. But there was no
evidence of espionage, and in 1983 the American government pleaded guilty to the injustice of
exile and gave compensation to some Americans of Japanese descent. We think it's a fair move
by the Americans to prevent intruders and for the security of the United States, after all the
Americans claim they are guilty and give them compensation instead.
In early 1914, Roosevelt approved the existence of a program which called “Lend-Lease”, where
Roosevelt believes this can help to defend his country from a security perspective by exchanging
barter in weapons and equipment with other countries especially England, Russia and China. We
agree with with this policy, because with the cooperation of one country with another country
can help not only in terms of national defense, but also people's welfare because of the existing
security. Roosevelt and churchill prime minister made a treaty called the Atlanta treaty where
this agreement was accompanied by a statement containing the fourteen points made by former
US presidents Woodrow Wilson, which contained that there was no purpose for expanding the
territory, not using weaponry in cracking down on policy, doing cooperation between countries,
combating war and also fear and poverty and others. A very wise thing, we strongly agree with
this. with the existence of such a treaty, can make the people's welfare will increase, because the
first is very wise that the Roosevelt is not hungry for power, the second cares for the people
because in the statement there is said to eliminate worry, poor and war and so on. This small
possibilities for war. because of a strong factor that we can see not only the figure of a wise
leader but a sense of care and love of the leader figure to the country and also its people.
Sources :
Whitney, F. (2005). Garis Besar Sejarah Amerika Serikat. Biro Program Informasi Internasional
Garis Besar Sejarah Amerika Serikat.
Armiyati, Laely . 2016. Depresi Hebat di Amerika Serikat. Prosiding Kolokium Doktor dan
Seminar Hasil Penelitian Hibah.pp 264-276
Higgs, R. (2006). Depression, war, and cold war: studies in political economy. Oakland, CA:
Independent Institute.