U.S. in WWII: Pearl Harbor, Loss of Life & Lasting Consequences - Essay Sample

Introduction

World War II is part of the history of the United States in terms of how America participated in the world and the consequences that followed after participating in the Second World War. The Second World War lasted from 1939 to 1945, and more than thirty countries participated in the war. The United States joined the Second World War after Japan bombed the American fleet in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Many people and soldiers lost their lives from the Japanese attack prompting the American president at the time Franklin D. Roosevelt to join the war. The paper discusses the American involvement in the Second World War and how it was affected by the war.

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The decision by the United States to join the Second World War had mixed reactions among the people both in America and abroad. The mixed reactions where some people opposed the decision of the state to participate in the war while others supported the participation of the United States in World War II (Aleksandrova, 2018). People opposed it because they had families in their home countries such as in Germany that they feared they might get killed and the separation caused by the war. The reactions of the people influenced their decision to join the American troops that participated in the war.

America had to participate in World War II to protect its people; the attack by Japan was an indication that there was the potential for different countries to attack any part of the United States. Joining the war, the United States was able to secure its people and the interest of the ally countries that were engaged in the war (Jeffries, 2018). More people joined the military to play different roles in the participation of the war. There were challenges experienced because the government was not ready and equipped to join the war. Resources had to be set aside to equip the military with the resources they required to use in the war.

The approach taken by the United States played a role in its engagement in the war where the citizens played different roles in supporting the soldiers in the front lines of the war. The support included supplying the materials used by the soldiers, such as food, arms, and medication that facilitated the soldiers to keep fighting. The soldiers felt motivated by the support they got from the people; more soldiers were also trained and joined other soldiers in the war boosting the capacity of the American troops. Collaborating with other countries was an advantage to the United States by giving the United States the option to concentrate on fighting Japan as opposed to fighting many enemies at the same time.

Involvement of America in World War II had adverse effects on the economy as well as the workforce (Fuller, 2018). When World War II started, America had not recovered from the great depression, but the war made the federal government emerge as a significant economic actor. The government regulated and controlled the economy through expenditure and consumption. The federal government acted by creating companies that manufactured aerospace machines as well as electronics. One of the reasons why the war promoted economic stimulus is because the war was not fought so much on the American soil. World War II, therefore, had a positive impact on the American economy as it helped the country in recovering from the Great Depression. Some individuals were dedicated to helping in fighting the war by collecting aluminum cans, scrap metals and rubber that they used in the production of the armaments. People also bought war bonds, and the funds were channeled in easing the cost of the armed conflict. However, the war had several negative effects on the American people.

The fear of being attacked led to rationing of essential commodities such as food, gas as well as clothing. The Americans embraced an attitude of acceptance to sacrifice to win the war. A rationing program started in 1942 set the limits of the amount of gas, food and clothes that they could purchase (Fuller, 2018). To purchase items such as meat, sugar, butter, fruits, gas tiers, clothes, and fuel, consumers used ration stamps that indicated the allotment of the rationed items. The consumers were also sensitized on the necessity of sacrifice so that the U.S troops could have sufficient items. Consumers, therefore, contributed indirectly to the Second World War.

World War II affected Japanese Americans living in the United States. This happened shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack conducted by the Japanese Navy. The Americans, therefore, perceived Japan as an enemy; hence their action to remove the Japanese Americans through Executive order 9066. President Franklin Roosevelt signed this order on 19th February 1942 (Fuller, 2018). The Japanese Americans in the West Coast, ports as well as ports and industrial regions as they were perceived as a security threat. The Japanese Americans were detained due to the fear that anyone of Japanese ancestry even though born in America was capable of betrayal and disloyalty. Despite this, the Japanese American men continued serving as in the U.S army in France, Italy and Germany. The immigrants were relocated or detained regardless of their citizenship status or length of residence.

To pay for the war, the federal government increased the tax rates and not even the poor were spared. For those in the highest income bracket, the tax rate increased to 90 percent (Fuller, 2018). Both the rich and the poor had to pay the income tax, thus increasing the income tax revenue. There were several job opportunities, however, and with the sacrifice of spending less facilitated by rationing people were able to save. There was a shortage of male workers which created the industrial demand for women services. The accumulated wealthy significantly helped in boosting the economy after the war as people bought assets such as houses. America and the entire world could, however, been in a better position had the war not started since the wealth generated catered for the costs of the war rather than in nation development.

Participation in the Second World War influenced the economy of the United States, where people increased their income through the production of the resources that were used in the war. Industries come up and businesses to support the soldiers by providing the supplies that the soldiers required to keep fighting (Jeffries, 2018). The industries helped the economy of the United States to survive despite the war. Economies of other countries that participated in the Second World War were greatly affected by the attacks and destruction of the main industries that the countries relied on for economic prosperity.

The Impact of the Second World War on the United States includes the disruption of the economy where international trade was affected and, in turn, affected the American economy. Before the war, America was trading with different countries around the world; hence the economy relied on foreign markets for its product (Aleksandrova, 2018). The Second World War created enemies where countries concentrated on producing their own products as opposed to importing. Some states such as Japan were completely destroyed during the war; therefore, the people did not have the resources to import products. The industries that we're able to survive also lost key experts that played different roles during the war.

The war made America re-organize in terms of how it dealt with international matters and concentrated on building itself to be ready for future endeavors. The state saw the need to invest in the military for it to be ready to counter future war challenges (Jeffries, 2018). The Japan attack was a surprise to the United States; the government felt that it was not prepared enough to join the war. The Second World War history is still relevant today, as indicated by the continuous funding and improvement incapacity of the American soldiers. America learned lessons in terms of how to deal with law and has influenced the decision it makes on military and war matters.

After the Second World War College attendance and home, ownership increased in the United States. These were promoted by the GI bill, which promoted affordability of education as well as houses for the war veterans (Mettler, 2005). The Bill helped the eligible veterans to get the necessary education as well as training. Qualified veteran members also received a housing allowance as well as boo allowance. The housing aid led to the creation of suburbs such as New York and Levittown. The GI bill is helpful to date as it helps in tuition fees payment, housing allowances well as textbooks. The tuition fees are paid regardless of whether the beneficiary is in private or public colleges or universities. After the World war, therefore, the veterans and their families enjoyed grants, scholarships and other benefits, thus making the veterans and their families advantaged for their participation in the war.

World War II enlightened the African Americans as they faced racial discrimination in America and not where they were fighting from. They, therefore, realized that racism was not global and thus were determined to fight it (Fuller, 2018). Upon returning home from the war, they advocated for equality in the workplace. This led to the passing of the executive order that prohibited racial discrimination in job training programs. This was facilitated through the establishment of the Fair Employment Practices Committee.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the participation of America in the Second World War influenced America, where it changed the decisions it makes on matters of international concern. America changed the way it used to approach on how to solve international conflicts. The decisions to improve the economy have helped in making Americans be innovative in solving the challenges that affect Americans.

References

Aleksandrova, S. (2018). Pacifism, America First," and the US Participation in the Second World War. Retrieved from http://journals.uni-vt.bg/bb/eng/vol9/iss1/10

Fuller, M. G. J. (2018). The Second World War, 1939-45: a strategical and tactical history. Pickle Partners Publishing.

Jeffries, J. W. (2018). Wartime America: The World War II Home Front. Rowman & Littlefield. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=0_V3DAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=america+in+the+second+world+war&ots=WeupcsNe1M&sig=O3hdw4o14Tv9gsAD0CbAdmfDLg0

Mettler, S. (2005). Soldiers to Citizens: The GI Bill and the making of the greatest generation. Oxford University Press on Demand.