history

History Essay

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Question One: World War II

Explain how the U.S. got involved in World War II. What interests were considered especially important? What factors were critical in winning the war? What lessons could we learn from this experience?

The Second World War is considered to have been the mightiest struggle mankind has ever witnessed and since a majority of individuals particularly resented the involvement of America in World War I, the country desired to stay out of this particular War and instead concentrate on local issues that were becoming more widespread. The occurrences of the First World War had eventually fed into the United States’ inherent desire to isolationism and this was best expressed through the passage of the Neutrality Acts in addition to the overall hands off approach to occurrences that unfolded on the global arena (Gottfried, 2003). However, Americans were not entirely neutral in regards to their sympathies, and the Acts were eventually manipulated to the frustration of sincere isolationists, to provide more support to the Allies. As soon as the Second World War broke out in Europe, the then president of the U.S. Franklin Roosevelt acknowledged that the conflict posed a huge threat to the nation's security and was therefore forced to find ways of helping European democracies without necessarily becoming directly involved in the War. It further became more involved in the War when its navy, as well as an air force, began escorting British convoys while protecting them from German submarines (Reiman, 2010).

The real event that transformed the United States into a country actively at war was the Pearl Harbor attack which came about soon after Roosevelt announced that America would no longer trade certain items to Japan who were in need of them during their war with China. The interests that were considered especially important were economic and political interests. Some of the factors that were critical to winning the War included good and effective leadership as well as the strategic plans of the nations at war. This is to say that in order to win the war those involved in it had to have leaders who would effectively guide them to the various strategies laid out in an effort to be victorious. Similar to how it was during World War II, it also applies in today's world particularly in business management, where effective leadership is crucial in ensuring the success of the organization (Ruggiero, 2002). There are also a number of mistakes that were made in the course of the Second World War, and we should therefore also keep them in mind as part of the lessons learned from the experience.

Question Two: World War II and American Society

How did Americans adjust to changes during the War years? Describe some of the social, cultural, and economic impacts of the War. In what ways did the War leave a lasting impact on America?

During the War years, there were a number of transformations that took place and which forced Americans to adjust. For instance, a majority of the American population were not quite satisfied with their old ways of life and desired something better especially soon after the war years. One of the key changes during the War years was the increase in mobility in the sense that most families were set in motion, pulling them off of farms and directing them into large urban regions (Gottfried, 2003). Women were also more empowered and were now being substituted for their male counterparts on the home front. The war years automatically challenged the traditional image of female behavior. Before the war years, the average mother would bear 8 to 10 children thus making living conditions quite hard. However, soon after the Wars, families began having fewer children and by the time the great economic depression was taking place, the average American mother was giving birth to only two children (Reiman, 2010). Before the War years, an overwhelming majority of the country's African-American population still resided in the South. In the course of the War years, more than a million African Americans migrated to the North and found work in defense industries. This particular change forced the rest of Americans to adjust to the new lifestyle by accommodating the blacks and treating them equally. Another transformation that was witnessed was the life expectancy of American citizens where such increases were attributed to improvements in living conditions as well as medical care. In regards to political impacts of the War, political leaders battled each other for the right to lead (Ruggiero, 2002). The fact that World War II brought about numerous transformations in the lives of American citizens is how it left a lasting impact on the nation.

Question Three: Cold War

What was the Cold War about? Describe some of the key events related to the Cold War between 1945 and 1960. Was the conflict avoidable? In what ways might the conflict appear different to us now than it did to people at the time?

The Cold War refers to the relationship that existed between the United States and the USSR soon after the Second World War (Gottfried, 2003). It was all about dominating foreign affairs for many years which resulted in a number of key crises such as the Berlin Wall, Cuban Missile Crisis, Hungary and Vietnam. Before the occurrence of this particular war, the United States had depicted the Soviet Union as being almost the devil incarnate whereas the latter had depicted American to be the same. The Cold War was the economic, geopolitical and ideological struggle between two global superpowers, marked by constant rivalry between these two former allies. Conflict incorporated subtle espionage in the largest cities of the world as well as harsh combat in the tropical jungles of Vietnam (Reiman, 2010). In 1949, the Soviet Union managed to create its very first atomic bomb that in turn escalated the conflict between the United States and the USSR, making humanity tremble at the possibility of a worldwide nuclear catastrophe. In the course of the 1950s, America was introduced to one of the most illiberal and darkest notions in its social as well as political history. Here, the government together with private enterprises accused a majority of Americans of being Communists as well as sympathizers, subjecting them to sanctions, investigations and interrogations; this was referred to as McCarthyism (Ruggiero, 2002). In the 1060s, the United States participated in the Vietnam War, and it is at this point that the American and Soviet soldiers were never again to face each other off on a battle field.

Looking at the circumstances or causes of the Cold War, one can argue that the conflict was not avoidable in the sense that suspicion, as well as mistrust, was the most prominent features of the post-war period which was in the late 19th Century. This in turn resulted in the rapid collapse of war time alliances where the disparities between the two superpowers, USA and USSR eventually spilled over to international conflict (Gottfried, 2003). This conflict was an inevitable follow-up to World War II; America, as well as Britain, was inherent foes of the Soviet Union that it is for this particular fact that the unavoidability of the Cold War was recognized. Additionally, the modern day view that Stalin's aggressiveness contributed to the Cold War has been accepted by a majority of historians in the West. The conflict within the Cold War might seem different to us than it did to people at the time in that we see it as having been a deliberate initiative of the two superpower countries to further their individual interests while at the same time securing dominance over the world (Reiman, 2010). It was also as a result of miscommunication combined with ineffective diplomacy and is therefore today considered a war of choice rather than necessity.

Question Five: Post-War Politics

Describe some of the political events in America during the Truman and Eisenhower years. What key issues were on people’s minds? How did leaders in this era build on the ideas of the New Deal? What new developments do you see?

Harry S. Truman is considered to have been a rather modest man having been raised in Independence, Missouri and worked at a number of jobs soon after graduating high school in 1901. The onset of World War, I saw Captain Truman commanding an artillery battery that led to significant action in France (Ruggiero, 2002). After the War, he tried his hand in business but failed, and it is at this point that Truman decided to enter politics. In the year 1934 he was elected to the U.S. Senate and served until Franklin Roosevelt tapped him to run as a vice-presidential candidate ten years later. After being elected President Truman’s Cold War policy was one of containment of Communism; this is to say that it did not challenge the Communists where they had already established themselves but instead seeing to it that their circle of influence did not spread at the expense of free countries. On the other hand, Dwight D. Eisenhower was raised in Abilene, Kansas and soon entered West Point where he served in the Army during the 20s and 30s (Gottfried, 2003). His powerful intelligence, as well as commitment to duty, made Eisenhower hold important positions in the years prior to World War II and in turn developed principle for reinforced combat. Following the end of the Second World War, General Eisenhower accepted the German leaders' surrender and then took measures to reveal the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps (Reiman, 2010).

When Eisenhower assumed presidency in 1953, he was the only former general to take up the office in the course of the 20th Century. Historians who have so far taken a closer look at the political career of General Dwight D. Eisenhower agree that he was a rather shrewd observer of the global scene even though he was at times naïve in his understanding of American practice in the political field. One of the main issues that were on people’s minds at this time was how the conflicts could be resolved and how interventions could be initiated by the chosen presidents. Both Truman and Eisenhower believed that the biggest threat to the United States was the monolithic and expansive communism existing in the Soviet Union; the people wanted this fear eliminated through the presidents’ decisive actions. Leaders during the Truman and Eisenhower years built on the ideas of the New Deal by supporting proposals made in regards to fully fair employment opportunities and large housing programs (Ruggiero, 2002). Some of the new developments that I can observe in relations to the New Deal include the creation of numerous special agencies that provide employment opportunities to millions of individuals across the country, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity or gender. However, the proposal of large housing programs is yet to be implemented.

References

Gottfried, T. (2003). The Cold War. Minneapolis, Minn.: Twenty-First Century Books.

Reiman, R.A. (2010). The New Deal and American Youth: Ideas and Ideals in a Depression Decade. Athens: University of Georgia Press.

Ruggiero, A. (2002). World War II. Marshall Cavendish.