US Manufacturing History 1914-1950

In 1914, US manufacturing was booming and added military equipment to its list of goods to export to our allies in Europe. We also increased our production of armaments for the US military knowing that our neutrality in World War I was tenuous. We entered World War I in 1917 with a fully armed military and 4 million Americans served in that war.

In 1918, all military production ceased and US manufacturers returned to domestic production. The 1920s brought another economic boom as US households bought homes, installed electricity and bought electric appliances, telephones, radios and power tools. The US also chlorinated the water supply and began waste water treatment. US auto sales boomed as did road construction.  Europe needed to be rebuilt and the US exported its new appliances to Europe.

In 1929, US manufacturing companies lost $billions in the stock market crash and demand ceased. This resulted in massive layoffs that persisted throughout the 1930s. The US also had a massive drought in the 1930s with crop failures and farm foreclosures.  Europe was also hit by the world-wide depression and shrinking global demand.

In 1939, US manufacturers again added military equipment to their product lines to export again to our European allies as they entered World War II. This war production effectively ended the great depression. The US entered the war in 1941 and increased production of military equipment to equip the 16 million Americans who served in World War II.

In 1945, all military production ceased and US manufacturers returned to domestic production. The 1940s brought another economic boom as US households bought homes and cars and that resulted in new roads. Again Europe and Asia needed to rebuild and US manufacturing companies increased exports and built manufacturing plants overseas.

The technical innovations that advanced during World War II included radar, wireless communication, nuclear power and advances in physics, chemistry and medicine. Penicillin was introduced in 1945 ensuring longer life-spans. Television was introduced in 1945.

In 1958, Jack Kilby, Texas Instrument invented the integrated circuit that would revolutionize electronics.

In the 1970s Dennis Ritchie, Bell Labs invented C Programming language.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader