World War II - Business and Economy

Pre-Statehood Era: 1700-1818

• Pre-Statehood Era- Government
• Pre-Statehood Era- Society and Culture
• Pre-Statehood Era- Business and Economy
• Pre-Statehood Era- Race Relations

Early Statehood: 1818-1861

• Early Statehood- Government
• Early Statehood- Society and Culture
• Early Statehood- Business and Economy
• Early Statehood- Race Relations

Civil War Era: 1861-1865

• Civil War- Government
• Civil War- Society and Culture
• Civil War- Business and Economy
• Civil War- Race Relations

Late 19th Century: 1866-1900

• Late 19th Century- Government
• Late 19th Century- Society and Culture
• Late 19th Century- Business and Economics
• Late 19th Century- Race Relations

Early 20th Century: 1900-1914

• Early 20th Century- Government
• Early 20th Century- Society and Culture
• Early 20th Century- Business and Economy
• Early 20th Century- Race Relations

World War I: 1914-1918

• World War I- Government
• World War I- Society and Culture
• World War I- Business and Economy
• World War I- Race Relations

Roaring Twenties: 1918-1929

• Roaring Twenties- Government
• Roaring Twenties- Society and Culture
• Roaring Twenties- Business and Economy

Great Depression: 1930-1941

• Great Depression- Government
• Great Depression- Society and Culture
• Great Depression- Business and Economy
• Great Depression- Race Relations

World War II: 1941-1945

• World War II- Government
• World War II- Society and Culture
• World War II- Business and Economy
• World War II- Race Relations

Cold War Era: 1946-1991

• Cold War Era- Government
• Cold War Era- Race Relations

Millennium: 1991-Present

• Millennium- Government
• Millennium- Race Relations

Lesson Plans

• Lesson Plans
• Discussion Questions
• Historic Literature
• Civilian Conservation Corps

Resources

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Agriculture

Victory Garden Diagram, March 1942

• This diagram displays a suggested layout for a Victory Garden. Victory Gardens were created to solve the food shortage during the war and provide fresh foods for families, who tended their own garden

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 10. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc10.html

War Food Communique No. 1, Meat Rationing, October 1942

• This Communique from the Madison Civil Defense Council asked to ration meat following February 1st, 1943 to provide more meat for soldiers. Adults were asked to reduce meat intake to 2 1/2 pounds per week, use all of the meat product, and to share meat with neighbors.

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 21. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc21.html

Defense News from Illinois State Council of Defense, City Children and Farm Work, February 22nd, 1943

• This Defense News edition featured an article about a program that would introduce children from the city to farms during the summer, as well as a training booklet created by the University of Illinois. Due to the severe shortage of manpower during the war, training and using students to farm assisted production was encouraged. Illinois was the first state who attempted this effort.

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 22. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc22.html

A Billion-Acre War Plant, America's Farms, 1943

• This pamphlet discusses the severe strain on farmers during the war. Demands on production rose with the war effort, but farms were shorthanded with many of the farmers and work hands going away to war. According to the teaching package (see link), the Extension Fund of the University of Illinois College of Agriculture helped train farmers as to the best techniques for getting a high yield.

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 33. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc33.html

Banks and Economy

Survey of Towanda Shows All Businesses Affected by War Except the Postoffice, January 19th, 1943

• This article from The Daily Pantagraph outlines the impact of World War II on Towanda businesses.

• Citation: Boulton, S.S. "Survey of Towanda Shows All Businesses Affected by War Except the Postoffice." The Daily Pantagraph, January 19, 1943. Used by permission of the Towanda Area Historical Society.

Industry and Labor

Mechanic's Suit Description and Illustration, 1942

• This description of a mechanic's suit details an outfit for women going into the mechanical workforce during World War II. Fashions were meant to be practical, but often challenged traditional gender conventions. The teaching package (see link) describes a Chicago ordinance that needed to be amended to allow for new women's attire.

• Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Illinois at War, 1941-1945. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1994. Document 20. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/03/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/illinois_at_war/doc20.html