1940-1949 Economic Timeline

  • New Inventions

    New Inventions
    Many new inventions were being made throughout this time period mainly focusing around the topics of war. Things like the computer, jet engine, and Polaroid camera were being made and created new opportunities to our future.
  • Pearl Harbor Bombing

    Pearl Harbor Bombing
    The Pearl Harbor Bombing was the surprise attack that instigated the US to join World War 2. Many ships and aircrafts were destroyed through this, which created even more jobs needed to create them again.
  • World War 2

    World War 2
    This was one of the biggest wars in all of US history. It pulled the US out of the great depression and drastically increased the jobs that were available to US citizens.
  • Increases in Job Opportunities

    Increases in Job Opportunities
    With the increase in military resources that were needed due to the Cold War, more jobs were becoming available. More people were going into the industry to produce military resources.
  • High Unemployment Rates

    High Unemployment Rates
    For over twelve years in a row there was more than 4 million people unemployed even with the smaller population there was compared to modern society.
  • New Products in the United States

    New Products in the United States
    Although the war did bring several benefits, it also introduced trade restrictions on certain countries. The US had to begin making products that they hadn't before to make up for the lack of trade. This additionally created more jobs.
  • Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima

    Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima
    The United States dropped a uranium bomb on Hiroshima to try and get Japan to surrender. This caused the Japanese to surrender which pulled the US out of the depression it was enduring.
  • Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki

    Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki
    Only three days after the Hiroshima bombing, the US dropped a plutonium bomb on Nagasaki. Once the war was over there was more jobs for people to take on. This increased the money that was circulating in the economy which pulled the US out of its depression.
  • Philippines gains Independence

    Philippines gains Independence
    The Philippines became their own independent country escaping US control. This impacted trade between the countries and forced the US to have to participate in international trade to get the resources it had before.
  • Jackie Robinson

    Jackie Robinson
    He became the first African American major league baseball player. He attracted a lot of new fans towards MLB which sparked greater interest. This essentially was the base for sports entertainment for future generations to come, proving that people were willing to spend time and money to watch these games.