What Caused World War 2 and Why Did the US Become Involved in It - Research Paper Example

What Caused World War 2 And Why Did The U.S Become Involved In It? After the First World War, there started blame games and pointing fingers to the countries involved and the consequences that arose. It is at this time that the German and the Austria held much of the blame for the First World War. Harsh financial implications that the war carried and the territorial effects all carried ground to generating the Second World War The Treaty of Versailles that was the sole document that ended the First World War is the document that led to these effects. The treaty of Versailles concluded the First World War in 1918 with the defeat of the Germans as part of the treaty. From this, the Weimar Germany steamed trouble that drove towards the Second World War. The treaty received a lot of dissatisfaction claims from the Germans included the loss of part of its territories and the tribute that the Germans had to pay as reparations for the war effects. Besides this reason, the Italian fascism of 1920s, the Japanese military development, the attack on China in 1930s and the Nazis take over inclusive with Adolf Hitler all point to the Second World War. In 1933 after Hitler and his Nazi fellows had taken over power, the grievances of the Germans over the lost war became apparent with the demands raised as part of the Nazi ideology. The demands proved more ambitious and included the uniting of the German community in one nation and the demand that led to the acquisition of space commonly referred to as “living space”. The living space used as a way of cleaning the country. Through it, the Germans gained access to the East and colonized the territories he found. The actions of the Nazis created tensions in the other states through these ideologies developed. Then started the colonization effects with Italy claiming over Ethiopia, Japan over Manchuria in the year 1931 and its avid entry into China in 1937 and the Germans rearmament and remilitarization of the Rhine lands at around 1936. The Germans went further to divide the Eastern part of Europe into a Nazi and the Soviet areas each with different levels of influence. The Danzig crisis followed that triggered the war in Europe at around 1939. In addition, competition for resources played a role in creating the Second World War. The involvement of the United States in the war has a number of factors. The U.S remained neutral until the involvement of the Axis powers with the Japan Empire to join forces that were to strengthen the Japanese force in their War with China. The U. S’s involvement started with an embargo over the Japanese that reacted with a strike at the US Pacific. From the initial times of conflict that the different countries involved, the U.S remained neutral to the war. The reaction of an embargo aimed at controlling the effects that the countries like China would have suffered if the coalition of the Japanese with the Axis powers. The U.S responded to an attack that Japan staged on its soil at the US Fleet in Pearl Harbor. This reaction left the U.S no room but to engage Japan and hence taking part in the Second World War. The involvement of the U.S aimed at creating a better chance for the defeat of the Germans and the Japan forces. The U.S had silently aided the Britain but this attack on them brought them open with their efforts to attack as from 1941. From this day, the U.S had declared war on Japan, which followed by a declaration of war on America by the German. In Europe And In The Pacific, Why Did The Allies Win? During the Second World War, formation of alliances drove the war. Many of the alliances strengthened each side and gave it a force that could withstand any attacks. The allies won the war due to their mobilizations. The alliances provided more populations to fight and industrial capacity. The alliances provided the war with geographical effects. Those allies created geographical advantages for the countries they allied with hence giving them a better position in the war. Part of the efforts that led to their win was the mistakes that the opponents committed during the war. Alliances provided people as for war populations, pooling of resources and the sharing of ideas that strengthened the alliances hence giving them a better chance at their opponents. Part of the alliances included the Soviet Union and the United States, which meant huge populations and resources that provided an advantage to the war. Through the large industrial bases that the U.S provided, weapons developed among other war items. The Pacific had the U.S fight Japan alone since the populations of Japan and their industrial capacity could not match that of the U.S. Each member provided an effort to the alliance. The U.S provided the industrial capacity while the European edge had the British and the Soviet Union. The British provided their Air and sea power that kept the corridors secure and protected their war interests. The populations of and size of the Soviet Union worked in the advantage of the alliance. Some of the other advantages that the allies enjoyed include the mistakes made by the Axis and the Japanese including the Germans provided an advantage to the allies. What Were The Consequences Of The War Both Geographically And Domestically? The war had both positive and negative consequences for all the countries that got involved. In geographical terms, many of the countries involved grew huge differences that have persisted to the current date. Many countries that fought against each other have had difficult relations from that time to date. Among other domestic effects, include the bomb on Japan that has left an effect on the country to date. The effects of the bomb affect the people with generations gone and still to come. One of the major common loss to the countries involved in the war included the death toll placed at over 50 million military people and civilians as well. Among these deaths, a large number is indicated from the Soviet Union, followed by Germans, Chinese, and Japanese and then United States and the United Kingdom lost least. Among other activities and deaths, include the massive campaign by Hitler and the Nazis that saw the killing of over 15.5 million people including 6 million Jews (Knight). Soviet Prisoners captured during the war, handicapped people and even political prisoners and other civilians counted among the death toll. These including the others killed in different countries like in the Soviet region, the Japanese civilians that weighed to millions counted among the death toll. Another effect of the war resulted into the super power syndrome that still rotates around the world to date. These all count among consequences that the Second World War caused. The U.S also changed from an isolationist to a country with allies that have also had it develop into a super power. The birth of the current US intelligence system is an attribute to the Second World War as a domestic effect. In conclusion, the war also led to the development of the United Nations that has helped control international differences for a long time hence trying to avoid the possibility of such a war again in humanity history. Work Cited Knight, Judson. "World War II." Encyclopedia.com. HighBeam Research, 1 Jan. 2004. Web. 21 Aug. 2014. . Read More