Skip to main content

How did World War II affect the United States?

World War II impacted the United States in several ways. Once the Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor, the United States joined the war. This required a full commitment on the part of the American people. The attack on Pearl Harbor woke up many Americans who were skeptical about the United States being actively involved in world affairs.


After we were attacked, we needed to convert our industries to wartime production. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation...

World War II impacted the United States in several ways. Once the Japanese attacked us at Pearl Harbor, the United States joined the war. This required a full commitment on the part of the American people. The attack on Pearl Harbor woke up many Americans who were skeptical about the United States being actively involved in world affairs.


After we were attacked, we needed to convert our industries to wartime production. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation gave loans to businesses and helped to cover the costs of switching from peacetime production to wartime production. With cost-plus contracts, businesses were guaranteed to make a profit producing war materials. Our businesses and the workers in those businesses worked very hard to provide the needed supplies and the needed weapons for our military. World War II brought us out of the Great Depression.


Soldiers were drafted and trained as early as September 1940. The soldiers were deployed all over the world during World War II. Americans who didn’t fight made sacrifices at home. Food and other supplies were rationed. People were encouraged to buy Victory Bonds. They also were cautioned to be careful about what they said regarding the war and to whom they spoke to about the war.


After World War II ended, the United States was the leader of the free world. We stood up to the Soviet Union and their attempts to spread communism around the world. The United States was considered a superpower after World War II ended.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...