The Reality and Myth of “The Good War” Essay

Introduction

The Second World War, being probably the biggest military conflict in human history, influenced the political, social, economic, and technological development of our civilization. And despite the fact that it is ethically controversial to praise the positive outcomes of the war there were many reasons for the United States to enter WWII and there is little evidence of its staid impact.

The beginning of the war for the United States

A number of political and economic reasons determined America’s entrance into WWII. First, the Great Depression after October 29, 1929, caused millions of unemployed and social unrest all over the world. The crisis split the world community and gravely destabilized the global economy, which played its role in the political and regime changes that followed it. With the national-socialistic party in Germany, Fascists in Italy, the USSR’s and European dictatorships, the economies of these countries changed. Therefore, as Oakes et al. pointed out, ‘the threat of fascism forced Americans to ask whether their economy and government could compete in the world’ (749).

After the outbreak of war in Europe, the American public was divided. Interventionists wanted to enter the war to stand for European democracy, and isolationists were ready to enter the war to defeat communism. The official motive for entering the war was the answer to Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, and some considered that it was an inevitable and necessary measure. In spite of the formalized reason, there were many other factors. The world economies became interdependent, and America needed to make an alliance with France and the United Kingdom for economic reasons, and with the Soviet Union because of its military resources.

Changes launched by the war

The first thing that became apparent after the mobilization was the limits of resources. As for the food and supply, it was strictly rationed in wartime, which did its service with the aim to economize. On the other hand, the way to defeat the shortage in production was to engage more civilians – especially women – to work to produce weapons and other supplies. However, regarding other social and gender groups, as Oakes et al. described it, the military ‘leadership struggled to preserve racial traditions amid wartime changes’ (758).

Positive and negative outcomes

Surprisingly, during the war and shortly after it, the United States experienced a demographic increase. The levels of industrial productivity in the United States during the war were rising as well, and the country brought to life ‘the miracle of production that was winning the war and rising living standards’ (Oakes et al. 762). Later on, the developments in military technologies reached an entirely new level, as both sides of the war tried to create nuclear weapons.

Soon enough everyone began to realize this kind of war could endanger the population of the whole planet, and humans could not possibly survive the path it was on. It was noticed that despite the modern patriotic representation of the war in American media, the mood in the country at that time was ‘free of high-minded idealism’ (Oakes et al. 766).

Conclusion

The Second World War is the most drastic and the most influential event of the 20th century. Despite its positive outcomes for American industry and social changes, it took a dangerous turn and brought more evil than good.

Works Cited

Oakes, James, Michael McGerr, Jan Ellen Lewis and Jeanne Boydston. Of The People: A History Of The United States, Volume 2. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.