Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The USA, c1920–55: boom, bust and recovery - 3 Impact of the New Deal and…
Full specification wording
Paper 2, Option 2H.1: The USA, c1920–55: boom, bust and recovery - 3 Impact of the New Deal and the Second World War on the USA to 1945: Social and cultural changes: WPA support for writers and musicians; changes in the role of women, including impact of the Fair Employment Practices Commission on the status of women and black Americans; wartime domestic propaganda; the power of Hollywood, including war films and the rise of Disney; the growing power of radio; popular music.
This topic examines how federal action and mass media reshaped American culture to 1945.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic examines how federal action and mass media reshaped American culture to 1945. The WPA funded writers and musicians, creating employment and documenting American life. Wartime labour shortages transformed the role of women, drawing millions into defence jobs. The Fair Employment Practices Commission (1941) banned racial discrimination in defence industries, improving the status of black Americans, though its mandate excluded sex discrimination. Wartime domestic propaganda mobilised support through posters and radio. Hollywood produced war films and Disney expanded into propaganda animation. Radio grew as a mass medium for news, while popular music, including swing, reflected wartime society.
What earns the marks
- Explains that WPA cultural projects employed writers and musicians, producing guides, oral histories and performances that recorded American life.
- Assesses changes in the role of women, driven by wartime labour shortages, and the FEPC's impact on black Americans by opening defence jobs, noting its mandate covered race, not sex.
- Analyses wartime domestic propaganda through posters, radio and film, linking it to mobilisation, rationing and morale.
- Evaluates Hollywood's power, including war films and the rise of Disney's wartime animation, in shaping public attitudes.
- Examines the growing power of radio as a national medium for news, entertainment and advertising.
- Discusses popular music, including swing and jazz, as both entertainment and a reflection of social change.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the FEPC as banning sex discrimination.
Put it right by explaining its mandate covered race, creed and national origin, while women's employment grew due to labour shortages.
Assuming all WPA support was purely artistic.
Put it right by noting its employment and documentary purposes.
Describing propaganda as only posters.
Put it right by including radio, film and other media.
Exam tips
- Link each cultural development to the wider theme of federal power and social change.
- Use specific examples such as the Federal Writers' Project or Disney's wartime films to support analysis.
- Balance coverage of government action, media and popular culture in your answer.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 2, Option 2H.1: The USA, c1920–55: boom, bust and recovery - 3 Impact of the New Deal and the Second World War on the USA to 1945: Social and cultural changes: WPA support for writers and musicians; changes in the role of women, including impact of the Fair Employment Practices Commission on the status of women and black Americans; wartime domestic propaganda; the power of Hollywood, including war films and the rise of Disney; the growing power of radio; popular music. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which New Deal agency set up in 1935 gave work to unemployed writers and musicians?
Listen
This topic examines how federal action and mass media reshaped American culture to 1945. The WPA funded writers and musicians, creating employment and documenting American life. Wartime labour shortages transformed the role of women, drawing millions into defence jobs. The Fair Employment Practices Commission (1941) banned racial discrimination in defence industries, improving the status of black Americans, though its mandate excluded sex discrimination. Wartime domestic propaganda mobilised support through posters and radio. Hollywood produced war films and Disney expanded into propaganda animation. Radio grew as a mass medium for news, while popular music, including swing, reflected wartime society. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains that WPA cultural projects employed writers and musicians, producing guides, oral histories and performances that recorded American life. Assesses changes in the role of women, driven by wartime labour shortages, and the FEPC's impact on black Americans by opening defence jobs, noting its mandate covered race, not sex. Analyses wartime domestic propaganda through posters, radio and film, linking it to mobilisation, rationing and morale. Evaluates Hollywood's power, including war films and the rise of Disney's wartime animation, in shaping public attitudes. A common slip: Treating the FEPC as banning sex discrimination. Instead, explaining its mandate covered race, creed and national origin, while women's employment grew due to labour shortages. Exam tip: Link each cultural development to the wider theme of federal power and social change.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Federal cultural intervention
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Civil rights and gender in wartime work
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Mass media and propaganda
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Popular culture and national identity
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Federal cultural intervention
- WPA support for writers and musicians, creating employment and documenting American life.
- Civil rights and gender in wartime work
- Wartime labour shortages transformed the role of women, while the Fair Employment Practices Commission banned racial discrimination in defence industries, improving the status of black Americans, though its mandate excluded sex discrimination.
- Mass media and propaganda
- Wartime domestic propaganda mobilised support through posters and radio, while Hollywood produced war films and Disney expanded into propaganda animation.
- Popular culture and national identity
- Radio grew as a mass medium for news, while popular music, including swing, reflected wartime society.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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Test your understanding of Paper 2, Option 2H.1: The USA, c1920–55: boom, bust and recovery - 3 Impact of the New Deal and the Second World War on the USA to 1945: Social and cultural changes: WPA support for writers and musicians; changes in the role of women, including impact of the Fair Employment Practices Commission on the status of women and black Americans; wartime domestic propaganda; the power of Hollywood, including war films and the rise of Disney; the growing power of radio; popular music.
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