World War II was the central event of the 20th century. It involved all the major continents of the world. World War II is considered as the most difficult war in the history of humankind as it killed thousands of people. America played a significant role in World War II. To highlight America’s role in the war, the paper discusses the involvement of America in the war, the challenges faced by the government and people during the war, and the issues it faced after the war.
World War II cannot only be regarded as the supreme armed forces conflict in history, and it is being considered as America's most significant war of the twentieth-century war. The war brought profound and everlasting social, lawmaking and educational changes in the United States of America, and has had an enormous impact on how Americans look at themselves and their country's status in the world. The book entitled as "The Good War" mostly consists of interviews with the American citizens who had experienced the World War II and had observed the involvement of America in this conflict (Terkel, 2013).
In the 1930s, Japan's plan to make use of East Asia to obtain natural resources and trade manufactured products was in straight conflict with the plans of America for Asia. All these issues were becoming a source of conflict between America, Japan, and European countries and after few years became a prominent reason behind the commencement of the World War II. In 1931, Americans were extremely concerned when Japanese military forces invaded the Manchuria. The American leaders made significant efforts to convince the Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek to go up against the Japanese invaders. In all these years, the government of United States of America and Japan was both contending for the same oil resources and Asian markets.
Nevertheless, there was also a good agreement of trade and business between the two countries. The dealings with Japanese business leaders became a major issue for the President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the legislative body in nineteen thirty-seven. In 1939, American government realized that Japan is all set to attack America so they ended their agreements with Japan and proclaimed that they would no longer sell equipment to Japan that could be used for confrontations. America was attacked by the forces of Japan and the Germans threatened to take over European nations. If American forces would not have attacked Japan then they would have proved themselves as weaker, so it is understandable that America’s involvement in war was necessary. It proves that the role of the USA played the role of a liberator in the World was II, as the country itself was in danger because Japan was planning to attack America.
According to Raum (2009), in 1941, Germany launched its saturation bombing and invaded parts of Europe . The Germans captured many countries in Europe. All these events also pressurized the American military to participate in the war to liberate the European countries from the cruelties of Germans. American came as a savior to protect the developing nations who were at danger of being destroyed. On the other hand, many historians such as Bradford (2010) stated that the intention of American government was to defeat all those powerful countries that were trying to destroy America . It is noticeable that the main reason behind the involvement of the United States of America in the World War II is because of fortification by the Japanese military, and America just have played the role of a rescuer in the war. The issues with the strengthening of Japanese army led to declaring of the war with the European countries and then the United States of America actively showed their involvement in the war for the reason that they were all focusing on the conflict of the Atlantic. The closing stages of the World War II were terrorized by the atomic bomb that severely affected the social and political state of affairs of America. Although America fought this war to protect the homeland but still the nuclear bombing did not only showed an effect on Japan's politics, in fact, America even faced a lot of issues.
I believe that it was entirely the right decision for the U.S.A to enter World War II as the democratic system, and freedom was in danger throughout the world. Since Japan was already planning to attack America first, so it proves that America made a right decision to be a part of this war. On the other hand, the involvement of the United States of America in the World War II also created confusion and turmoil in the world, and America used nuclear weapons that created more destruction and few American-Asians started to hate the policies of American government. Nevertheless, in actuality the American government and political leaders such as President Franklin Delano and other Military chief had taken preliminary steps to organize the country into a wartime economy, Regarding both recruitment at home and societal impacts of the conflict. The Americans used nuclear weapons as they knew that it is the only way through which they can protect and liberate their country. The commencement of the World War II contributed a lot in changing the political, social and cultural lifestyle of Americans. The role of America in the World War II was of a liberator as they were aware of the fact that many Asian and European countries were trying to destroy USA.
During the World War II, the European and Asian countries started to keep an unsympathetic and argumentative behavior towards America as they felt that Americans are capable of attacking and devastating the countries that they want to invade. According to Chafe (2003), the world felt that American aggressively fought with all the countries that were against the principles of American government and even used atomic power to show their power to the entire world, but in actuality they were fighting to protect their country from enemies. (Chafe, 2003). It is noticeable that no other country was able to understand that Americans were even fighting to protect their own homeland as countries like Japan was all set to devastate their homeland. When Japanese armed forces attacked on the American Naval Base, the American people became furious and planned to get involved in war to fight back to protect their country.
During the 1930s, the mixture of the political conflicts within the country and the memory of disastrous losses in World War I contributed to pushing the opinions of the American public and government toward isolationism (Budreau, 2010). The economic condition of America was not good as they had already wasted a lot of money in the First World War, which created a lot of chaos and social disruption in the country. The good part of this war was that it was fought to secure the freedom of America as the war was challenging the liberty of USA, the Germans were destroying their possessions, and then another attack on Pearl Harbor was made. So USA got involved in the World War II to protect their country’s future freedom.
According to the social context of Terkel (2013), America actively participated in the World War II, and it immeasurably changed the political and social circumstances of the country (Terkel, 2013). The judgment of the American citizens who experienced World War II had given their interview to Terkel (2013) stated that government authoritarians of America are considered as self-centered as they think they are the finest living thing existing on the surface The Americans see themselves as stronger than all the other nations in the world. They believe they are the super power and can easily defeat the weaker countries. The American public and government both have failed to realize that warfare does not only create devastation in the more vulnerable countries, the countries that are stable and developed even do suffer. On the other hand, the general public failed to realize that America got involved in the World War II to save the country.
World War II Gave Birth to the American spirit. The political and social condition of America before the commencement of World War II was entirely different. The relations between the Japan and America were becoming horrible throughout the nineteen thirties. Americans had incredibly different ideas about the economic and political future of Asian and European countries, especially Japan and Germany.
Evans (2002), while explaining the political changes in America due to World War II stated that the American elections in 1944 played a significant role in reshaping the political environment of American society (Evans, 2002). After the elections of 1944, people started to respect the migrants who were living in America and stopped classifying the class of individuals by caste, creed, and culture.
According to Philips (2006), during 1931-1939, America was considered as a physically powerful country (Philip, 2006). America was not having enough amounts of natural resources such as oil and gas. For this reason, American political leaders looked with greed at the European colonies across the Asian region and realized that Japanese business leaders were becoming more successful in Korea and China. America has always taken an interest in invading those countries that are enriched with natural resources. On the other hand, it is noticeable that America was having no other option except for choosing to fight against the countries that were trying to destabilize their homeland.
Another positive change that occurred due to the war was that the industrial market of America changed drastically. The conflicts between people of different caste and sectors got diminished, and the concept of unification was established. The film industry played a vital role in developing the national spirit. All phases of life from political beliefs to individual savings changed when World War II got started. People actively participated in the war and acknowledged the role of American military forces in the war.
A remarkable increase in mobility was observed during world war as people left their villages and migrated to urban cities. Economically World War II helped the industrialist as most of the automobile manufacturing companies started making war vehicles that were sold to the American military forces. The financial system of the general public was in a stable state. The government was spending a lot of money in the World War II, but opportunely it never affected the economic system of the country.
The war had a remarkable impact on women. The women actively participated in the war and fought with the enemies with suitable armaments. According to Weatherford (2009), the unexpected emergence of huge numbers of women in military uniform was effortlessly the most perceptible change during the World War II (Weatherford, 2009).
The Native American home front during World War II supported the efforts of the American military in war. The good part about the war was that even the Native American approved that the sacrifices were for the betterment of their country and social order. During World War II, the Afro-American also vigorously participated in the war and fought with the enemies of America. On the other hand, there was a massive pressure from American citizens, that America should get involved in war to protect the European associates. It is perceptible that even the general public in America was forcing the American forces to play a significant role in the war to protect the European allies. The war played a vital role in showing the world that it is not easy for any nation to destroy America, as American military is very powerful.
The post-war era of the United States of America brought massive changes in practically every portion of American life. Thousands of men and women came into military service and observed the different parts of the world. The demands of labors in arms and weaponry industries caused many Americans to migrate to the Gulf coast as most of the defense plants were located in that region.
Another reason why America’s involvement in World War II is considered as good because when World War II ended, the United States of America was in much better financial condition as compared to other countries in the world. Still, they needed to enhance their economic situation to run a country in an effectual manner. Many people were starving and blamed the American government for this war. The government of other nations even raised question against American involvement in the war, so the political situation of America was not in a proper phase.
It can be concluded that America played a significant role during the World War II, and because of which the government and people of America faced certain challenges. The policy makers at that time played a vital role as America came out stronger in terms of power and financial condition, after the World War II. World War II is considered as the biggest armed conflict in the history of this world. It shaped a new world, and its most significant results were the commencement of the era of nuclear power and the beginning of the Cold War. After few years of World War II, it was observed that America was reformed into a peaceful, democratic, and non-violent country. It can also be concluded that The World War II is regarded as a partially right war, as it was fought to save the freedom of the country because countries like Japan and Germany were trying to destroy the United States of America.
References
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Bradford, J. C. (2010). A Companion to American Military History: 2 Volume Set. Chichester : John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Evans, H. E. (2002). The Hidden Campaign: FDR's Health and the 1944 Election. New York: M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
Meisler, S. (2011). United Nations: A History. New York: Grove Press.
Philip, G. (2006). Oil and Politics in Latin America: Nationalist Movements and State Companies. New York: Cambridge University Press.
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Terkel, S. (2013). The Good War. New York: New Press.
Terkel, S. (1997). The Good War: An Oral History of World War II. New York: The New Press.
Weatherford, D. (2009). American Women And World War II. New York: Castle Books.
