American History and World War II - Essay Example

American History and World War II Your of On December 7, 1941, with Japanese attack on Perl Harbor, all debate over avoiding war and the policy of American isolationism was gone. It was the beginning of a great war that brought death, devastation and finally the victory and power to United States. At the time of Roosevelt’s appointment in 1933, historically crucial events were taking place in Japan, Italy and Germany which had to shape the future and the fate of United States. This paper studies and analyses the major factors which contributed to American success both at home and abroad during WWII in addition to world’s view about American participation in war and bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Despite his internationalist nature and the idea of League of Nations, Franklin Roosevelt paid little attention to foreign relations. Great Depression and domestic policies kept him from supporting League of Nations and World Court, even after German and Japanese withdrawal from League in 1930 couldn’t take him beyond taking expected measures. In addition to adopting a good neighbor policy, Roosevelt continued to work on strong economic foundations. Despite significant disturbance in world, Roosevelt maintained neutrality legislation to stay impartial and isolated. However, German invasion of Poland in 1939 made Americans threatened by the isolationist approach. France and Britain’s declaration of war against Germany made the isolationist idea completely obsolete. U.S provided unlimited support to Britain and later to Soviet Union in order to avoid war but an undeclared war began when a German U-boat sunk U.S. freighter in Atlantic Ocean.1 United States resisted Japanese expansionist plan throughout 1930s, invasion and takeover of Manchuria in 1931 and invasion of China in 1937 initiated war in Pacific. American economic pressure over Japan forced changes in Japanese leadership that triggered Perl Harbor and finally pulled America into war. In the beginning of war, Japanese victory in Pacific terrified West Cost Americans. Partial victory for Americans appeared when Japanese capital Tokyo was bombed. It was less of a material loss but huge in terms of psychological attack. It was followed by the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942 and after that the decisive Battle of Midway Island took place. U.S. aircraft carriers destroyed three out of four Japanese carriers that sabotaged their further plans of invasion and they adopted a defensive strategy.2 Tension with Germans also became manifold after devastation of American merchant trade with Britain as U-boats destroyed more than 4,700 merchant ships and 200 warships. Stalin stressed the Allied invasion of France while Roosevelt urged troop’s deployment in North Africa. Allied leaders planned invasion of Italy in 1943 but downfall of Mussolini took eleven months and cost was heavy for American. Despite zero physical harm at home ground, war changed America completely. Millions of Americans worked overseas, women replaced men in factories and automobile factories became weapon producing units. Mobilization for war resulted in a thriving economy.3 Roosevelt involved businessmen into war by organizing their efforts to mobilize economy and enhance productive capacity. Surprisingly, by 1942, American production was equal to the combined production of Japan, Italy and Germany which ended depression. Economy was boosting with virtually zero unemployment, dynamic agricultural production and highest business profits ever. Wage and price controls were ratified and consumer items were provided systematically. War also changed American perceptions for the role of women in society. Women filled men’s jobs, entered into unusual industries, joined unions, and filled teaching positions. Environment and enthusiasm was entirely different from WWI, as it was advocated and believed to be a war against evil’s oppression. The major factor that contributed to American success was determination and motivation to work tirelessly in order to achieve a collective goal.4 Despite the seriousness of external war, Roosevelt had to face political confrontation at domestic level that he tackled by adopting the alternative election strategy. Challenges were posed to nation’s own democratic core in form of racial and other prejudices against African Americans, Japanese American and Chicanos. At Tehran conference in 1943, when allied forces gained substantial success, the status of postwar world became a debate. United Nations, rearrangement of European map and right of self-determination was discussed. Roosevelt died just before the war ended in Europe. Contrary to popular belief, vice president Harry Truman survived all difficulties and continued Roosevelt policies. After Japanese defeat in Midway Island in 1942, American forces invaded and recaptured Philippines and demolished Japanese air force and navy. The next step was to invade Japanese mainland but the idea of advancement became obsolete after atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, thus, subsequent surrender of Japan.5 There were two major objectives for ending war abruptly by using the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Firstly, United States wanted to end the war as quickly as possible. Secondly, it was essential to make the world aware of American power and to reinforce this especially to Soviet Union. The bomb seemed to serve the purpose of protecting peace and freedom in the post-war world. Particularly, it protected against the suspicious actions of Soviet Union and its huge Red Army in Eastern Europe.6 With American expansion of the atomic program, Americans and whole world was quite sure about America’s changed status in world. Gradually and somewhat reluctantly, Americans absorbed early lessons of their education about atomic age and their role in it. This was indeed a very different post-war world where peace can’t be isolated from war; it was a world where atomic weapons were essential to maintain peace. In this new world, Americans could take some relaxation from wartime vigilance but there was no turning back to American isolationism, it was impossible regardless of strong American impulse for that. American had no previous protection in world as traditional isolation and the superb geographical separation served well to save America from the chaos and corruptions of the Old World, it was lost. Harry Truman conveyed this message when he recommended a program for universal military training in1945.Truman explained his arguments in detail for a “prepared soldier-citizenry”7. The views of ‘madmen’ leaders of America, such as depicted in Dr. Strangelove, were modified due to the sense of indomitability that is brought by atomic power and Cold War. The American war in Vietnam8 was proved to be the by-product of the American order that started in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Atomic Diplomacy Alperovitz regarded development and use of the atomic bomb during World War II as explanation of American abusive exercise of power during the cold war. Alperovitz, in his thesis on bomb blast and Cold War argued that Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs were envisioned more as “political” rather than military weapons that ended war and empowered American leaders to shape and dictate post-war “peace”. It was not a military necessity but a political one that was envisioned as beneficial for American in post-war world. He further rejects the heroic myth about the role of bombings in ending war and reveals that there were alternatives to end war but American policy makers were apprehensive of the political consequences of such alternatives9. The resilience of American conviction and optimism in the post-war years supported Americans against criticism regarding the atom bomb, abrupt rise of the Soviet Union as America’s cold war enemy and pragmatic American criticism of the moral challenge posed by atomic weaponry. The Soviet Union associated unusual characteristics with vanished American innocence in the atomic age. The bomb, therefore, became America’s greatest defense against the international communism spread. Those who criticized and disputed the righteousness of America’s atomic dream were dealt aggressively because the nation’s security was assumed to be dependent on atomic weapons in future.10 Work Cited Henriksen, Margot, A.Dr. Strangelove’s America. California: University of California Press, 1997. Roark,James,L.,Johnson,Michael,P.Cohen,Patricia,C.,Stage,Sarah,Lawson,Alan and Hartmann, Susan, M., “The United States and the second world war, 1939-1945,”in The American Promise. Bedford: St Martin, 2008. Read More