Question

America Between the World Wars and in World War II: 1918-1945

Answer 1

• US President Woodrow Wilson sought to maintain US neutrality but was ultimately unable to keep the United States out of the war, largely because of escalating German aggression.
• On May 7, 1915, the Germans sunk the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania, which had over a hundred Americans on board. Wilson warned that the United States would not permit unrestricted submarine warfare or any further violations of international law.
• The publication of the Zimmermann Telegram and the escalation of German submarine attacks on US merchant vessels led the US Congress to declare war on Germany on April 6, 1917
• Though some Americans opposed US entry into the war, many believed they had a civic duty to support the war effort. US government propaganda sought to mobilize the American citizenry through appeals to patriotism and civic duty, and by linking US democracy with support for the democracies of Western Europe.
• The Selective Service Act of 1917 authorized the conscription of military manpower for the war effort so that the United States did not have to rely solely on volunteers. Because many American citizens believed it was their patriotic duty to support the war effort, the draft was well-received and rates of draft-dodging were relatively low.
• The First World War had an enormous impact on US politics, culture, and society. Advocates of female suffrage successfully linked the patriotic efforts of women in the war with voting rights. This strategy was highly effective, and in 1920, the US Congress ratified the Nineteenth Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote.
• The Treaty received enormous opposition in US as it called upon the US to support League actions.
• The United States did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles and did not join the League of Nations. Wilson considered this a great failure and it plagued him until his death.
• Turned Isolationist – wanted no further war or outside contacts. Many Americans saw US involvement in WWI as a waste of time.
• The result of this disillusionment was a fundamental shift in American policy from internationalism to relative isolationism.
• Victory had brought an emotional let-down – “the slump of idealism.” The war to make the world safe for democracy [also known as the war to end all wars] had not made the world safe for democracy, nor had it ended wars.
• Some twenty conflicts of varying dimensions were being waged in various parts of the world. About all that America had seemingly derived from the war was debt, inflation, prohibition, influenza, and ingratitude from Allies whom she had strained herself to help.
• The most important economic legacy of World War I was the breakthrough of the United States as a major industrial nation in the world. Prior to the war, the nation was considered a debtor nation on international capital markets, but this status changed soon afterwards.
• Much of this is attributed to the damage sustained by England. After the war, England had trouble returning to the Gold standard, and the physical infrastructure of the country had suffered major war damages.
• The United States, on the strength of its geographic location was able to succeed England as a new economic giant. New York City came to rival London as the Global finance center.
• The other lasting legacy of the War was the creation of liberal economists. Prior to the 1920’s, very few people were advocates of central Government being involved in economic decisions.
• Causes for entering WW2:
• It was a great turnaround for US to shift its policy from a isolationist policy to participate in World’s most devastating policy.
• Germany Sank U.S. Merchant Ships: The fact that the U.S. sent military aid to the United Kingdom was viewed by Germany as a hostile act. The war time supply created many jobs in US, it cannot afford to stop manufacturing them
• Japan’s Invasions on China: By 1941, Japan occupied much of north and coastal China and committed atrocities there. Also US’s influence in Asia-Pacific was threatened.
• US public opinion: They were moved by the plight of Jews and other common people under the fascist regimes of Italy and Germany. US government and celebrities like Charlie Chaplain through films educated the public about the atrocities of these regimes.
• Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor: On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the U.S. navy base in Hawaii as a pre-emptive strike. The U.S. went to war with Japan on Dec. 8, 1941. On Dec. 11, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.
• Like after the WW1, US after WW2 had adopted diametrically opposite foreign policy
• The war had produced a clear winner and now there are only two super powers in the world: US and USSR. It can no longer afford to follow an isolationist policy
• The threat of USSR’s communist propaganda meant that US had to actively seek allies and support capitalist countries
• USA declared it self the leader of the “free world” and actively participated in cold war.
• The present US still follows this policy of active intervention in other countries to safe-guard its “interests”.
• America’s involvement in World War II had a significant impact on the economy and workforce of the United States. The United States was still recovering from the impact of the Great Depression and the unemployment rate was hovering around 25%. America's involvement in the war soon changed that rate.
• American factories were retooled to produce goods to support the war effort and almost overnight the unemployment rate dropped to around 10%. Women went to work to fill jobs that were traditionally held by men.