Before the 1940s, the United States had to endure an era of unemployment, bankruptcy, and poverty.

“During the war about half of American women worked outside of their homes,”( Hughes 2). The number of working women rose from fourteen point six million in nineteen forty one to nineteen point four million in nineteen forty four. “Women were not just motivated by wages or patriotism; but buy the feeling of independence that they gained from the work,” (Hughes 2). Without women laborers the US economy would have never been able to produce military hardware to be successful in the war. Even though women played a huge role in the work force during the World War II, they also played an even bigger role in the war itself. Women played several different roles in the actual war. “A few of women’s roles in the actual war of World War II would be army nurses, spies, pilots and entertainers,” (Scott3). Women served as army nurses during World War 11, there were than seven thousand active nurses on duty when the United States entered the war. “Women also served as pilots, on September tenth nineteen forty two, Nancy Harkness Love, with the support of th U.S. Air Transport Command, organized twenty five women pilots into the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (W.A.F.S),” (Scott3). Women pilots were used to serve non- combat flights, to free the men for combat flights. “Women spies of the World WarII , they were often successful and unsuspected since people suspected women that women’s properly roles were solely domestic,” (Scott3). Lastly

Following the economic boom of the 1920s, there was a period of economic depression. The United States and its citizens were greatly affected. There were many economic problems that occurred such as unemployment rate rising tremendously and many more. Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt were presidents during that time and dealt with the economic problems. They helped create programs to financially stabilize the country again. The Great Depression ended when the United States entered World War II.

Another way woman had positively influenced the war was through the assisting in the operation of stores and businesses. Due to all the men enlisted in the war the government came across a job shortage there were not enough men to work in stores. women jumped at the chance to help, and support their family's while they were at it. Although woman could not have jobs that required high responsibility woman could work in jobs such as secretarial positions, as clerks, cleaners, ect. This was a major stepping stone to woman proving their equality with men in society and the workplace.

Before the World War II, many women only held jobs in the house providing for their children, husband, and the needs that came with taking care of the household, but during the war, this completely changed. Many women were given new opportunities consisting of new jobs, new skills, new challenges, and greater chances to do things that were once only of imagination to them. Women made the war especially possible with taking over the jobs that men would usually do, but could not do because of the war. One of the first things that encouraged women to take on jobs of the men who went off to war was the propaganda. Propaganda consisted of films, radio, and print. These advertisements used showed women fighting in the army and many working in

Women wanted to be able to do more in the war. They tried to find ways to work

December 7, 1941 was the day when America declared war, but it was also the years following that women had the chance to show their patriotism in a way they never had before; working outside of their homes. World War II was a chance to contribute to what was needed most, the war efforts. In a dire situation that is War, women moved from their homes help the America for the better of society and their husbands off at war.

The country had no choice but to have the women in the factories. They needed their help and were not going to complain about it. They knew with extra hands that, that was going to be an easier way to win the war. The government called on to the women and without hesitation, they went. They answered to whatever work that needed to be done. They worked a 52 hour week at 68 cents per hour. They were all prepared and knew that their “summer jobs” would end soon. There work dominated their nights and days. Most of their work was outdoors as well. Even though some women would much rather be at home helping there families other ways they still managed to get their other job complete as well.

Unemployment skyrocketed. Without jobs people lost their homes. It was such a disaster. Things turned around but just took some time. Once Roosevelt became president in 1932 he made sure to push for changes. The New Deal was his plan for recovery. The New Deal kept banks opened. This New Deal put people back work. Due to the WPA The Workers Progress Administration program employed so many. There were many schools, roads and even hiking trails to be built and planned out and this was the prefect job for someone who was kind of desperate and just wanted to work. In the end to many thought that President Roosevelt was a hero because it was obvious he cared deeply for the people. Roosevelt did his best to end the depression. The new deal eased the hardship of the Great Depression. Things were still horrible by the end of 1930s but there was light at the end of the tunnel. The Great Depression lasted from 1929 to 1941 but once the War started there were other things to focus on. There were things that were needed for the war such as Weapons, artillery, ships, and airplanes were needed quickly. Men were trained to become soldiers. The woman of course was left to take care of the home life and keep the

Women were taking jobs in factories, built planes, made war supplies, worked on assembly lines. This poster was not just directed at women to inspire them to join the workforce during the war, it was directed at husbands as well, to show them that women can do it. During this time one of the down falls was, pay was never equal, men were receiving $54.65 a week, and women were making $31.50. But more good than bad came out of working in factories and assembly lines. African American women were really affected by these changes, they were now working alongside white women and this forced a break in social barriers, and brought the equality brought on from the civil rights movement to reality. Entering the war there were 12 million women in the work force, at the end of the work about 20 million women were in the work force, 3 million of those women were factory

As young men responded to their call of duty and enlisted in the armed services, this left the American war industry with a severe labor shortage. With so few men left to satisfy the labor needs, a call went out to women to fill this void. However, the initial response to this request was not satisfactory . As a result, the government devised a propaganda enriched advertising campaign to motivate the masses of women by appealing to their sense of patriotism as well as telling women their labor efforts would help end the war and bring soldiers home more

When the war started, women had to take over the jobs of men and they learned to be independent. These women exemplified the beginning of change. Coupled with enfranchisement and the increased popularity of birth control, women experienced a new

For the extensive number of working class women, it was nothing new- these women had unceasingly gone to their jobs. Women in all different standings in society helped the country's case for the war. They did jobs such as heavy coaling, portering or working in fields.

Ever since then women proved that they can work in a man’s workplace and do just as well. Any job that was a man’s, was a women’s as well. Women were soon “the most needed workers of all” according to Brenda Ralf Lewis. Factory workers became known as “the soldiers without guns”. If women hadn’t stepped up to the line, winning the war wouldn’t have been as easy as it was for us. Not only did the women in factories and shipyards have a big part in doing their part in the war contributions, but so did the women who were out on the field fighting alongside with their men risking their very life.

This was the start of major social change. Before the war, women had been content to stay at home to bring up the family and do domestic work. It was considered unbecoming for a woman to work. During the war it was considered unpatriotic not to.

The Stock Market Crash of 1929 led America into the Great Depression. The Great Depression impacted society in many ways. When the United States elected President Franklin Roosevelt in 1932, federal control was greatly increased. In the first 100 days of FDR's term, he was able to pass legislation for creating jobs, financial relief, and an increase of federal spending. From the 1920s to 1939 government employees increased by more than 400,000