![]() ![]() In August 1942, it made school attendance mandatory and free of charge for children between the ages of seven and 14. The Commission, which in 1941 reported a surplus for the first time in years, suddenly possessed ample resources to initiate much-needed social reforms. The establishment of Canadian and American bases in the early 1940s, however, sparked an economic revival in Newfoundland and Labrador as millions of foreign dollars were poured into the local economy. Because the Commission had little money to spend on roads or telecommunications, many rural residents were isolated from other communities and practiced a way of life that had remained largely unchanged for generations. Widespread poverty and destitution had resulted in high rates of tuberculosis, malnutrition, and infant mortality, which the country’s poorly funded health system could do little to combat. When war broke out in 1939, Newfoundland and Labrador was in financial straits – unemployment was rampant and government spending that year exceeded its income by more than $4 million. Ultimately, the social changes of the 1940s helped shape the country’s constitutional future, which cumulated in Confederation. Standards of living rose, styles of dress changed, new friendships – both romantic and platonic – were forged, and the introduction of American radio and other forms of entertainment did much to integrate Newfoundland and Labrador into North American culture and distance it from Great Britain’s. The presence of thousands of visiting Canadian and American troops also altered values and attitudes previously entrenched in Newfoundland and Labrador society. ![]() Advancements were made in health care, education, transportation, communication, and other fields. The establishment of foreign bases provided the Commission of Government with an unforeseen amount of wealth, which it used to improve social services. The Second World War triggered a series of rapid and far-reaching social changes in Newfoundland and Labrador. (Related Articles: For other related articles view the Second World War section of the Government and Politics Table of Contents.)
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