World War II Through the 1970s - Assignment Example

? World War II through the 1970s - World War II through the 1970s Introduction World War II engraved a strong mark on world’s history by redistributing the power equilibrium, which existed before its onset. There is no doubt, that this event shaped the world during its course, but its influence was even evident decades after the flames of war have been extinguished. The war officially started in 1939 with the formation of two global military fronts, the allies and the axis. Most countries had no choice but to join either of the two military alliances. It was by far the most globally widespread war ever fought in the history of mankind. The European conflict was already heating up during the 1930s that ultimately resulted in German invasion of Poland in Sep 1939 and inevitably marked the onset of the Second World War. Adolf Hitler was a major figure that influenced the course of the war and proved to the mastermind behind the German’s plan of world domination. Therefore, Axis alliance was mostly led by the Germans with major contributions from Italy and Japan. Poland, France, British Empire, Soviet Union and later on US mainly constituted the Allies front. US initially avoided being part of this power clash but had no option but to counter attack after Japan bombers drop havoc over Pearl Harbor. (Payment 2004). During 1930s to 1970s, the period is full of major historical events but two of them had a major influence on America’s current politics, economy, culture and society. These include the mentioned incidence of Pearl Harbor and later US atomic bomb explosions over the two populated cities of Japan. Pearl Harbor and Atomic Bombs The attacks on Pearl Harbor proved to be the decisive event that prompted US to finally involve in the bloodshed of the world war. However, going into the war turned out be politically and strategically beneficial as it helped US to emerge as a superpower on the global canvas. Soviet Union was the other force that gained immense power during the war period, thus, a clash between these two super powers was displayed in the form of cold war that had a great impact on political, social and economic front of America. Incidence of Pearl Harbor can be argued as one of the major underlying factor in stirring these future events. Moreover, dropping of nuclear bombs on the two cities of Japan by the American planes that killed thousands of people in an instance turned out be a major blow. It gathered huge criticism and induced massive uproars regarding the use of nuclear weapons but it also put an end to six year long war. It had a great political as well as social impact. Even today, it remains as a black mark on the history of United States. Arguably, that event influenced many US policies that include a solid stance on global nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. US reluctance During the development of European conflict in the late 1930s, America maintained its stance of isolationism. Few reasons for such apathy can be deduced. First of all the great depression during the 1930s discouraged the US from participating any distant conflicts that would add burden on the economic front. Secondly, they were reluctant to enter the emerging war after the lessons learned from the aftermath of the First World War. A committee in the senate had already blamed war profiteers or “merchants of death” for American entry into the World War I. Several neutrality acts were passed during the late 1930s to ensure similar mistake is not repeated under the current situation. (Wittkopf et al 2002). Women in the World War American women played a major role in winning the World War II. Their contributions came in many forms. War demanded utilization of all country resources such as labor in the factory to produce military supplies, troops to fight for country’s cause. American women served all these purposes, more efficiently than anticipated. They also contributed as nurses, taking care of the wounded by serving in the Red Cross. The whole image of women being a helpless soul was changed during the course of the war. Most of the women participated on dangerous fronts such as military and intelligence. During the war days there was urgent need of pilots to carry on the US air dominance. Women stepped forward in the time of need and enthusiastically participated in the call for pilot recruitment. In no time they were flying the sky proving their skills and capabilities. After the World War I, government officials realized the importance of spies as a source acquiring top secret information. This was a difficult and very demanding task. Women’s contribution in this field was far more than anyone had imagined. They risked their lives, give up their own ambitions, sacrificed many relations and devoted their life for this cause. They gathered important information from behind the enemy line that immensely helped in preparing strategic counter measures in the war. (Payment 2004). Civil Rights after World War II: Following the World War II, many civil rights movements stirred up to move forward the cause of African Americans. Discrimination on the basis of color was still evident in certain public facilities such as education. Education policies, especially in the south were dominated by doctrine of “separate but equal”. The uproar against this system broke out on various places during the 1950s. Brown v. Board of Education comprised of five cases that were put up against the racial segregation of schools. In 1954, Supreme Court’s decision was perceived with a delight by many African American students striving for their rights. Chief Justice Earl Warren ensured that white supremacy should not be threatened nor did he put the blame on the south for suppressing the rights of African Americans. Instead he cleverly dealt the case by stating that it is not possible to get equal education with separate facilities under the present doctrine. Supreme Court’s verdict against the segregation of schools was a major breakthrough for the African Americans. Much of the efforts from leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. paid off when Civil Right Act was finally passed in 1964. This act mostly abolished all the discriminations based on color, sex, religion or nationality. (Lawson et al 1998). Vietnam War The extensive American military intervention in Vietnam initiated a widespread political awareness among young American generation by giving rise to political movements and initiating the spread of student activism. The origination and spread of the counterculture of 1960s resulted in political changes all over Europe. During the period of Vietnam War, the counterculture movement gained popularity in America which increased public awareness about women’s rights, race relations, and sexual mores. Moreover, the Vietnam War increased political awareness among young American individuals by fueling the origination of movements such as civil rights movement, Gay Liberation movement, and Feminist Movement. The Anti-War movement in the United States began in 1964 when college students initiated an opposition in their campuses to Vietnam War. Thus, the Vietnam War is also credited with promoting the spread of student activism across America. President Johnson’s Great Society: The “Great Society” was a set of programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, the Older Americans Act, and Federal education funding introduced by President Lyndon Johnson during the period 1964-66. Primarily, the major aims of the Great Society were to eliminate poverty and racial injustice from America. Medicaid and Medicare: Medicaid and Medicare are two of the Great Society’s programs that still exist in the modern American society. Medicare and Medicaid are a set of health care programs which were set in motion by President Johnson’s passion to improve the nation’s health. President Johnson also fueled the progression of Federal efforts in the fields of health care research and disease prevention. The Medicare is a national social insurance program which is aimed at providing young disable individuals and Americans above the age of 65 years a guaranteed access to health care services. Medicare- a gateway to national health insurance enrolled approximately 19 million senior citizens upon its creation. The largest source of medical and health care funding in the United States of America is Medicaid. Medicaid- a welfare program is working to abolish the paradoxical legacy of poverty by providing services to families with low income and resources. (Lerner 2012). Conclusion: From this historical review of World War II through 1970s, certain things can be concluded. The incidence of Pearl Harbor and America’s nuclear explosions on Japan proved to be two major historical events that had great impacts in various aspects. America never wanted to be part of the developing conflict. State of isolation was still implicated during the initial course of the war but attack on the Pearl Harbor proved to be decisive blow that forced US to participate in the later part of war. Following the Second World War many breakthroughs were achieved by the African American civil rights movement that includes Brown v. Board of education and Civil right act of 1964. Vietnam War stirred political awareness among the young generation of the United States. Medicaid and Medicare are two programs that originated under Johnson’s great society agenda and still exist today. Reference: Payment, S. (2004). American women spies of World War II. New York: Rosen. Lawson, S. F., & Payne, C. M. (1998). Debating the civil rights movement, 1945-1968. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield. Wittkopf, E. R., Kegley, C. W., Scott, J. M., & Kegley, C. W. (2002). American foreign policy: Pattern and process. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. Lerner, M. B. (2012). A companion to Lyndon B. Johnson. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Read More