16. World War II led to further global economic crises
It was the Second World War which brought the United States to virtually full employment, a goal which proved elusive throughout the 1930s, though the privations experienced by citizens were often worse than those felt during the Depression. During the war items such as butter, meat, eggs, cheese, milk, and other foodstuffs were rationed. Consumer products were scarce. Rubber was rationed, which led to the rationing of gasoline, not because gasoline was scarce (it wasn’t) but to prevent unnecessary travel from causing undue wear on tires. Even by rail and via the relatively new means of travelling by commercial aviation trips were prioritized via government action. Workers were exhorted to spend their paychecks through the purchase of war bonds, and with little else available to buy, many did.
An often overlooked impact of the Great Depression on American society is the manner in which it dictated government policy following the Second World War. The number of returning servicemen and women was recognized as potentially creating a strain on the economy, as workers returned to civilian life needing jobs, as well as housing. Worker’s jobs were protected, and programs were established to provide educational benefits, as well as housing. The idea was to create additional jobs which hadn’t existed prior to the war, in construction of houses, schools, and whole new communities as well as the roads and other infrastructure to connect them. Through action of the federal government, the generation whose parents had lived through the Great Depression were presented government programs which were designed to prevent another downturn of equal devastation.