The first chapter of The Unfinished Journey by Chafe reviews the events that happened during World War II in the United States and abroad with American citizens. When analyzing the nation’s political, economic, and social aspects, the author asks one central question: how did America change during the war? And divides the answer into several categories. Therefore, the chapter is separated into several discussions that lead to a singular conclusion, showing that the changes ultimately contributed to the nation’s post-war state. Using the examples of different changes, the author argues that the US entered an era marked by prosperity. At the same time, he highlights the uncertainty of whether the new lifestyles would revert to previous systems or become a basis for a long-term shift.
The first part of the larger question deals with politics and the nation’s war-related social agenda. During the war, it was vital for the country to ensure that its resources would be used to support the military and people who enlisted to fight. To achieve this, as Chafe argues, propaganda became the most powerful tool in mobilizing people and keeping them engaged in supporting the country’s efforts (3). The author provides examples of songs, advertisements, books, radio dramas, and other media pieces that connected soldiers who left the country to fight abroad and citizens who stayed at home. By establishing this relationship, the US ushered in a new period of patriotism defined by active participation.
At the same time, propaganda reframed other nations, such as Russia, positively to strengthen the relationship with its foreign allies. Notably, this connection is later reframed again, as shown in the post-war policy of containment by Kennan, which aimed at limiting the spread of communism. In his document, Keenan stated that there could be no “permanent peaceful coexistence” between the two countries (Chafe et al. 13). Thus, it is apparent that some changes during the war did not become permanent for the country.
The change is also examined through the economic lens in the chapter, referring to labor changes and technological advancement. The war pushed manufacturers to innovate to deliver essential technology and goods to the front. Some of the most impacted industries were ship and aircraft building, where production time rapidly decreased (Chafe 5). The increased need for development and manufacturing also resulted in the expansion of the labor force, and the problems of employment and low wages exacerbated by the Great Depression were resolved quickly (Chafe 6). As a result, the economy changed drastically during the war, with many people now having jobs, higher incomes, and better working conditions.
Nevertheless, as the labor force could not employ enlisted men, its need for expansion has led to several social changes. In this part of the chapter, Chafe reviews the influx of women in occupations typically associated with male labor (8). Women started working in manufacturing, forestry, and other industries that were previously unreceptive to them. The mood has shifted toward women no longer being housewives, exploring their power as supporters of the nation’s economy. Similarly, Black Americans entered the labor force with new roles, and many enlisted to fight alongside white Americans (Chafe 14). These changes led to significant reforms in employment, reshaping women’s view of their roles and possibilities and giving black Americans an opportunity to expand their influence.
Overall, the author frames the discussion of the war through the various changes the US underwent during this period to set up the country’s state after World War II. On the one hand, the war led to significant positive changes by encouraging innovation, technological advancement, economic rebuilding, and societal organization. People were mobilized and readily shared their resources with the country’s economy, taking part in the war at home and on the front lines. On the other hand, the changes affected the country’s social structure, and it was unclear how the nation would act after the war’s end. The question and its answers provide crucial knowledge for this semester as they create a foundation for explaining future national and international tensions.
Works Cited
Chafe, William Henry et al., eds. A History of Our Time: Readings on Postwar America. 8th ed., Oxford University Press, 2011.
Chafe, William Henry. The Unfinished Journey: America Since World War II. 9th ed., Oxford university Press, 2021.