Introduction
The victory of the allied powers in the Second World War was highly associated with the American entry into the war. The United States of America brought with them a military muscle consisting of state of the art mechanization and strategic military geniuses. The citizens of the United States of America had been through the most devastating economic depression in their history as the nation was followed by the ensuing regimentation just before the war started. The Second World War is probably the most mechanized and dreaded war in the history mainly due to its outcome and effects on people's lives and countries. However, the war has been attributed to the success and ascend of the United States of America to the richest nation in the world and an unrivaled superpower. The country has plenty of available resources that it uses to develop its economy. In addition, it has the most powerful military, which makes it a superpower across the globe. The World War II had different impacts but the advantages are more than the disadvantages, thus can be termed as ‘The Good War.’
The Second World War put America on the world stage immediately after its late entry into the war and even after the war. The Americans had always steered off from participating in issues that touched largely on foreign policy owing largely to their longstanding belief in international neutrality. This had to change as the axis powers started undertaking aggressive decisions that were directly affecting the American lives. Some of the founding fathers had even been on record as campaigners for non-alignment with other nations to avoid entangling alliances (Cohen 237). They believed that creating alliances with other nations would automatically earn them rivals and hence cripple their good standing with other nations in the world. Some of the alliances that the country did not want to form with other countries were the trade alliances, which were perceived to be a source of trade rivals. However, this was to change soon with its forced entry into the war and the ensuing need during the post-war period. It joined the war due to circumstances and tipped the scales in the favor of the allied powers thus, helping them to gain victory. After the war, it formulated and implemented policies, both within its shore and abroad on allied countries that helped it to solidify its position. Therefore, it placed it as the ultimate superpower in world politics, military strength and the richest nation in the world. It is thus, probably accurate to call the Second World War, the good war, with an American perspective or state of mind.
The Second World War ended in 1945, which put the Americans on a path of peace and prosperity that soon was woven into the concept of the American dream. The economic boom that ensued, development and invention of new technologies, the suburban growth and other notable changes were experienced in the American society due to the victory. The American way of life was soon changed to acquire a new twist of pride in the national identity and domestic affluence. The end of the Second World War saw a great change in the social, economic and political lives of the American people (Gaddis 36). There was an increased number of the employment ventures and opportunities for all people, both during the war period and after the war, which saw a rise in the living standards across the country. The landowners had large farms where people from different ethnic roots would work to earn some income for survival purposes. The increasing employment opportunities, which saw a rise in high wages, offered even menial jobs and greater opportunities for the American citizens. It was also as a result of the available resources, which were ready for utilization in the country.
During and after the Second World War, there were positive changes in the economic patterns in households and hence a rise in the per capita income that ultimately led to a change in the overall economy of the nation. In this case, the country recorded high standards of living among the citizens, which implied that the levels of poverty were low. Women, who previously played an inactive role in the economic development of the country, were soon pulled into the new wave. There were opportunities for them during the war period while their husbands and sons served in the war. They were employed in the increasing number of arms factories, clerical and secretarial positions. The notion that women were only responsible for household chores ended, which paved the way for them into the corporate world. The mass recruitment of men into the armed forces forced the industrial players to turn to women for labor. The attitude of women and their abilities were soon changed, as they played a more active role in serving their country. The minorities were also not left out, as groups such as the African American populace joined in the recruitment exercise across the country. The turnover of African American individuals voluntarily enscripting into the war corps was greater than it had ever been.
The notion that the Second World War was a good war for the American people is accurate in reference to the results. The mobilization exercise brought about major changes in the demographic statistics of the country. A movement of people in large numbers from the rural areas to urban centers was experienced. Legislation such as the G.I. bill that was passed after the war were also critical to the change in the economic situation of the American society soon after the war. Most of the people could acquire the college education and proper housing for their families, thus a general change of their lifestyle and their offspring as a whole. The World War 2 period provided a great bonding period for the American people, as they got to work together with their differences notwithstanding. They got opportunities to work together as a united people to serve the nation in the different sectors that contributed to the final victory. However, this does not mean that there were no problems as segregation in military camps and racist strikes were still experienced within the different sectors.
The circumstance of the World War II provided an opportunity for a greater American unity. Therefore, the World War 2 presented the United States of America as a force to reckon with on the world stage. It acquired a new important role in world affairs and saw a greater increase in both state and federal government powers. The nation also experienced a rise in industrial production, both through the war period and after the war. Technological and scientific changes were also experienced, which had a great impact on the overall economy of the nation. The American industry was jerked into rushing to produce more machines and equipment to be used in the war to outdo its rivals such as Germany and Japan in the war. Agricultural production and development were also not left out as the production of agricultural produce were experienced largely during and after the war period. The rising population needed to be fed and thus, the agricultural sector was put into a task. The use of modern technology in production and the increased mechanization as part of the agrarian revolution were mainly due to the war. It saw the rise in production volumes in agricultural produce as farms were turned largely to commercial assets as an effect of mechanization. There were full employment and a great increase in the purchasing power, which led to more spending due to changes in the living standards of people.
As expected during the war period, there was anxiety, wartime frustrations and tragedy in the Second World War but they were negligible as compared to the positive gains that were experienced by the American people. The Second World War also changed the state of American politics from a self-centered domestic policy nation to a world leader and a great contributor to world issues. The policies that were now initiated considered the plight and position of other nations during and after the war. The Roosevelt administration and the New Deal came into office just before the war with great possibilities to change the situation of the economy. Therefore, the war provided a good opportunity for this plan to be effected. The United States of America even went ahead to initiate plans that helped its allies and other friendly nations across the world after the war. The Truman doctrine and the Marshall plan were American policies that helped in solidifying the American position in world affairs to protect its vast interests across the world. For instance, the Marshall plan was a blueprint development to help allied nations that had been devastated by the war to rebuild and reconstruct. These and other programs gave America an upper hand against its rivals in gaining a superpower position.
Conclusion
Therefore, the perspective that the Second World War was a ‘’Good War’ ’is majorly due to the rise in the living standards and the overall boom in the American economy during and right after the war period. The American people experienced a good effect of the war after defeating the axis powers and still maintaining a great economic time. The Second World War is thus o many a blessing in disguise to many based on the American way of life, as its impacts lasted long after the war. The economic depression that was experienced before the war had given the American people a taste of what economic tumult and struggle could mean. Therefore, the post-war boom found the country ready to grab any opportunity to change the livelihoods of the citizens. During the post-war era, a majority of the American citizens and especially on the home front experienced a greater success for all people. The need to succeed in a highly capitalistic society had always been a greater feeling for the Americans. Therefore, when the opportunity presented itself, they grabbed it earnestly and turned their lives around (Stouffer 77). The higher wages that were accorded for all workers saw them improve their lifestyles by building better homes, investing in industry and giving their children quality education. In conclusion, ambitions were planted as a culture in young Americans’ minds during this particular period. It could be the reason most young people in the United States of America are creative and innovative. It also saw an increase in the population across the country. Young men, who had served in the forces, were coming back home in large numbers. Most of them married and settled to start their families. The following years after the war, in what came to be ‘the baby boom period’ saw a great increase in the American population. Therefore, the Second World War is, a ‘'good war'', as it made America what it was meant to be.
Works Cited
Gaddis, John Lewis. Strategies of containment: a critical appraisal of American national security policy during the Cold War. Oxford University Press, 2005.
Cohen, Lizabeth. "A consumers' republic: The politics of mass consumption in postwar America." Journal of Consumer Research 31.1 (2004): 236-239.
Stouffer, Samuel Andrew. The American soldier: Adjustment during army life. Vol. 1. Sunflower Univ Pr, 1977.
