What occurred in the United States during the Second World War

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What occurred in the United States during the Second World War

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Abstract

Research on the effects of World War II demonstrates that there few areas of society that were not, in some way, impacted by the event. Although many Americans remained on the home front there were numerous social, political and economic sacrifices that citizens made in order to support American troops abroad. Because the men who served in the armed forces ultimately made the greatest sacrifice, the impact of the World War II on American citizens is often overlooked in historical discourse.With the realization that World War II had such a notable impact on the development of American society there is a clear impetus to explore what has been written about the impact of the war on social discourse. To this end, this investigation considers what occurred in the United States during the Second World War. Through a careful consideration of what has been written about this time period a more integral understanding of how the war impacted citizens of the United States will be elucidated.
World War II and the United States

Researchers examining the events of World War II are quick to note that the devastation and destruction that occurred during the war were unprecedented in the history of mankind.
In addition to selling bonds, O'Brien and Parsons also note that there were a plethora of programs developed and instituted by the government with the intent of keeping citizens connected to troops on the battlefield.
In particular, Kaledin notes that daycare services became more widely available for children and working mothers.
As such, the social and foreign policy changes that occurred in the wake of the Second World War were indeed quite revolutionary.
Synthesizing all of the research presented in this investigation, it seems reasonable to argue that the most notable impact that the war had on American citizens is that it brought individuals and communities closer together

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[...] Clearly, what this data suggests is that the Second World War had little physical impact on the United States. However, as O'Brien and Parsons there were other ways in which the war impacted the United States. In particular, these authors note the bond programs that were used to finance the war. Each week, various community leaders would work to sell bonds and to remind local communities that a war was raging across the ocean. Although bond purchasers did receive a return on their investment, the financial sacrifice that they made at the time was seen as critical to supporting the war and the troops. [...]

[...] As such, the social and foreign policy changes that occurred in the wake of the Second World War were indeed quite revolutionary. Divine notes that in the aftermath of the Second World War, the United States came to the realization that it could no longer remained isolated from the rest of the international community. This had a drastic impact on the way in which the US approached the development of its economic and foreign policy. Fortunately, this new policy adopted in lieu of isolationism forced all levels of government and society to work more cooperatively with one another to ensure the development of the United States over the long-term. [...]

[...] Kaledin goes on to argue that all of efforts undertaken at this time contributed to the overall sense of community that was developed in small towns all across the United States. The efforts of children, mothers, and all members of the community provided each town with a sense of pride and self-esteem “Feeling they were ‘part of something' enhanced the lives of soldiers of all ages” (p. 7). While the sense of community that was fostered at this time was indeed a marked change for society, Kaledin further notes that as the wartime economy ramped up and more women were entering the workforce, society had to create new social institutions to deal with these changes. [...]

[...] Conclusion Clearly, American citizens were not physically impacted by the Second World War. The physical aspect of the war took place thousands of miles away in foreign countries that most Americans had never seen. Despite the fact that World War II did not have a profound physical effect on US citizens, it is evident that the war had a number of social and cultural impacts that have been wide recognized. Synthesizing all of the research presented in this investigation, it seems reasonable to argue that the most notable impact that the war had on American citizens is that it brought individuals and communities closer together. [...]

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