Research Paper on America After WWII: Economic and Social Changes

Introduction

Chapter 8 of the reading shows that America after World War II (WWII) experienced tremendous growth in its economy as well as significant social changes. The Second World War ended in the year 1945, and the period that followed entailed increased economic prosperity. America experienced high and sustained levels of labor, productivity, and economic growth. Social changes were also experienced by the minority groups that were excluded from the American Dream during WWII. This essay aims at showing how some of the events described in the previous chapters of the text directly influenced the United States (U.S.), as described in Chapter 8. A description of whether the positive changes in America occurring after WWII outweigh the negative differences.

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Events Described in the Previous Chapters

Nationalism, dictatorship, Cold War, Revolution, the United States Canada, and Latin America, as well as the outbreak of WWII, are among the various subjects covered in the previous chapters. During the Revolution, American life changed from many perspectives. Many of the people entered the military service. The movement of people to different parts of the country created openings for business growth, with more industries developing. There was the growth of the American population and new settlements all over the nation. The new arrangements played a role in the economic decisions that the American government made during the Revolution (Duiker, 2009).

The outbreak of WWII deepened the crisis in America as a result of dictatorial regimes that oppressed the minority groups in America. In the hands of systems such as that of Hitler and Nazi Germany, black men and women slaves moved to work in plantations owned by the whites. Labor demands in industries owned by the whites created jobs for many in America. Slaves also relocated to work in these industries, which were located near the defense plants of the military.

How the Events Directly Influenced the U.S. Economic Growth and Social Changes after WWII

Events such as the Revolution, dictatorship, nationalism, Cold War, and the Outbreak of WWII had a direct influence on the American economic growth and social changes after WWII. During the Revolution, the movement of slaves to more productive areas in industries owned by the whites enhanced their standards of living (Duiker, 2009). More employment opportunities were created during the Revolution, and this impacted the standards of living of the African Americans positively even after the end of WWII. Increased employment opportunities and the progress of the war industries of WWII supported the continued economic growth in America. In fact, at the end of WWII, the U.S. was in a better financial situation than other nations of the world. Social changes occurred in the U.S. as a result of the Revolution, with more industries growing. New cities and fast growth of the old ones were evident during the Revolution. Urbanization increased the population in the towns creating a better environment for businesses. During the Revolution, the favorable environment for business supported economic growth and movement of people to the cities in the U.S., witnessing an increasing number of city dwellers even after WWII.

Dictatorship and nationalism directly influenced the U.S. economic growth and social changes after WWII by promoting adherence to law and order and respecting the rights of the citizens. WWII created a population of law-abiding citizens, which transformed the outlook of life for many in America. The government created laws that every citizen would follow. Public policies such as the GI Bill of Rights of 1944 required people to go back to school, buy homes and farms (Katznelson & Mettler, 2008). The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were created to protect the rights of all Americans. For example, the introduction of public policies such as the GI Bill of Rights of 1944 provided citizens with money that enabled them to improve their standards of living. The availability of funds for Americans during the war helped the Americans to better themselves in many ways, including building better families.

Whether the Positive Changes in America after WWII Outweigh the Negative Changes

Based on the reading, the positive changes in the U.S. after the Second World War outweigh the negative differences of oppression, slavery, suffering, relocation, and discrimination, among others. For instance, the growth of the economy experienced during the Revolution enabled the Americans to forget many of the pain and military deaths experienced during WWII. The public policies enabled many of the veterans in the U.S. to expand their opportunities and achieve continuous growth of economic prosperity even after the war. Although many militaries died during WWII, the veterans realized the positive benefits of the changes brought about by the fight to the future generations. Better policies that respected the rights of many were created and implemented even after the end of the war.

The dictatorship of the white people to the blacks created a long-lasting effect of aggressiveness of the black Americans after WWII. The oppressed groups, including African Americans, American women, Hispano Americans who were not included in the meaning of the American Dream during WWII, were more aggressive after WWII. The end of the war allowed them to win their freedoms as American citizens with equal civil rights as whites. The Declaration of Independence, as well as the U.S. Constitution at the end of WWII, created an environment whereby every American was to be given equal rights (Kennedy, 1999). Women had a chance to work outside their homes by getting employment in the industries and take jobs that were initially meant for men.

Conclusion

Among the various topics discussed in the book regarding WWII, chapter 8 talks about the aftermath of WWII and how this war led to tremendous economic growth and social changes in America. The Revolution, dictatorship, nationalism, and the outbreak of WWII created an environment that was favorable for Americans at the end of the war. They influenced America directly by creating new industries, increased job opportunities, urbanization, and settlement of people in different areas of the nation. It led to more opportunities that empowered Americans to exploit the available opportunities for economic growth and change their lives socially. The positive impact of tremendous economic growth and social change outweigh the negative differences as Americans enjoyed the input made by those who participated in the war.

References

Duiker, W. (2009). Contemporary world history. Cengage Learning.

Kennedy, D. (1999). The American people in World War II: Freedom from fear part two. Oxford University Press.

Katznelson, I., & Mettler, S. (2008). On Race and Policy History: A Dialogue about the G.I. Bill. Perspectives on Politics, 6(3), 519-537. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20446759