Pop CultureDecade:1940s

World War II

Politics 1940

◦ Census shows an increase of 7.3% in population since the 1930 census. This is the lowest rate of increase during the 20th century.

◦ US Government approves a sale of surplus war material to Great Britain.

◦ US Congress approves the first peacetime conscription draft (Selective Training and Service Act of 1940).

◦ President Roosevelt is elected for a third term. He becomes the first man to hold office for three terms.

1941◦ The Lend-Lease Act is approved,

providing Great Britain and other allies with $7 billion in military credits for American war supplies.

◦ US declares war on Japan on December 8 and officially enters the war.

1942◦ Japanese detainment camps are

established along the west coast. 110,000 Japanese Americans are confined to the camps.

◦ Development of the first atomic bomb is signed into agreement between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. It would be successfully detonated 6 months later in December.

1943◦ Jefferson Memorial in

Washington, D.C. is dedicated on the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth.

◦ The Tehran Conference is held for 3 days. Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Josef Stalin agree on a plan for a June invasion of Europe, under the code name Operation Overlord.

◦ Construction of the Pentagon, which began in 1941, was completed.

1944◦ Normandy Invasion, D-

Day, occurs when 155,000 troops land in France. This is the largest amphibious military operation in history.

◦ The G.I. Bill of Rights is signed into law, providing benefits to veterans.

◦ The greatest continental US tragedy of WWII occurs when two ships loading ammunition at a naval station in CA explodes, killing 320 people.

1945◦ Pres. Franklin Roosevelt,

PM Winston Churchill, and Premier Josef Stalin hold the Yalta Conference, agreeing to require Germany’s unconditional surrender and to set up four occupation zones in Germany after the war.

◦ Pres. Roosevelt dies suddenly; VP Harry S. Truman assumes the presidency.

◦ Germany unconditionally surrenders in May.

◦ The atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in Aug. Japan surrenders.

1947◦ The Truman Doctrine is implemented, granting

$400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey to battle Communist terrorism.

◦ The Marshall Plan is established, giving aid to European nations for war recovery. $12 billion would be given over a four year period.

1949◦ NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is

formed between the US, Canada and ten Western European countries, stating that any attack one nation would be considered an attack against them all.

1940◦ Fantasia by Walt Disney◦ Pinocchio by Walt Disney◦ F. Scott Fitzgerald dies

from a heart attack◦ Tom and Jerry (originally

called Jasper and Jinx)◦ Bugs Bunny (The Wild

Hare) 1941

◦ Curious George by H.A. Rey

◦ Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by The Andrews Sisters

◦ Captain America comic book

◦ Dumbo movie by Walt Disney

Arts & Entertainment

1942◦ Casablanca (starring

Humphrey Bogart)◦ Bambi

1943◦ Oklahoma premieres on

Broadway◦ Norman Rockwell’s

Rosie the Riveter is shown on the front cover of the Saturday Evening Post

1946◦ It’s a Wonderful Life

(starring Jimmy Stewart)

1947◦ A Streetcar Named

Desire – play written by Tennessee Williams

◦ Miracle on 34th Street

1946◦ The Basketball Association of America is founded.

It would merge with the National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.

1947◦ Jackie Robinson breaks Major League Baseball’s

barrier against colored players when he debuts at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Sports

1943◦ Slinky◦ Silly putty

1944◦ Kidney dialysis machine

1945◦ Atomic bomb invented◦ Microwave oven◦ First computer (ENIAC)

1948◦ Frisbee◦ Velcro

Inventions, Innovations, and Technology

Events 1940

◦ The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is officially dedicated. It is the most visited park in the NPS today.

1941◦ Pearl Harbor is attacked on

December 7 by Japanese fighter pilots.

1942◦ T-shirt introduced

1947◦ Chuck Yeager breaks the

sound barrier 1949

◦ Captain James Gallagher completes the first around-the-world non-stop airplane flight.

◦ Candyland board game makes it’s debut

As the Great Depression came to an end and war descended on Europe, fashion for both men and women was dictated by economics more strongly than it had been during the first world war and the 1930s. The war meant Paris and Italy were no longer fashion leaders, and strict rationing, beginning in Britain in 1939 and America in 1941, meant designers had their work cut out for them. Substance mattered much more than style. Everyone needed practical, sturdy clothing, and no one wanted to be accused of a lack of patriotism by wearing something too flashy. Natural fibers weren't used for civilian wear, because they were needed for uniforms.

Fashion

Women◦ Women's clothes of the

1940s were typically modeled after the utility clothes produced during war rationing. Squared shoulders, narrow hips, and skirts that ended just below the knee were the height of fashion. Tailored suits were also quite popular.

Utility clothing was introduced by the British in 1941 to aid the economy and help the war effort. Although utility clothing was not manufactured by the military, it was very close to becoming a “civilian uniform.”

Men◦ Men's suits lost their vests,

pocket flaps and trouser cuffs.

◦ The end of the war and rationing in America saw the development of the style that is most often associated with the swing era. Clothes were full-cut again, with double-breasted, longer jackets and wider trousers. Shirts and coats came in a range of colors and hand-painted silk ties ran the range from elegant to exotic - featuring geometric designs or pin-up girls. Everyone wore a tie and through it, a man could express his individuality.

Take a powder – to leave Fuddy-Duddy – old-fashioned person Gobbledygook – double talk, long speech Fat-head – stupid or foolish person Chrome-dome – word for a bald headed man Eager beaver – enthusiastic helper In cahoots with – conspiring with Snap your cap – get angry Above my pay grade – don’t ask me Cook with gas – to do something right Flip your wig – to lose control of yourself Pennies from heaven – easy money Gone with the wind – run off (with the money) Lettuce - money Gas - either a good time or something that was really funny Grandstand – to show off What’s buzzin’, cousin? – how’s it going?

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