World War II
Once again powerful countries formed alliances in the 1930s. The two alliance systems included the Allies and the Axis Powers. The Allies included Great Britain, France, Russia, and the United States. The Axis powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan. The world was at war and countries placed entire economic, industrial, and scientific resources into the war effort. Even civilians gave their time and effort to the cause.
Germany‟s leader (dictator) was Adolf Hitler. He was a soldier during World War I and was angered about the losses and war reparations Germany had to pay after WWI. People in Germany experienced, like many other countries at the time, economic depression, and hopelessness. Hitler rose to power within a few years.
Exactly how did the United States become involved in another world war after the majority of Americans were not in favor of ever getting involved in another world war? The most shocking event for Americans was when Japan launched a surprise air attack on the U.S. in Pearl Harbor (naval base in Hawaii) on December 7th, 1941. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt responded to the attack with a quick and courageous decision. In response to the shocking attack, the President and Congress declared war on Japan. The United States officially entered World War II on the side of the Allies. The United States was at war from December 8, 1941 through September 1945.
Several Americans became famous heroes for their leadership, organization, and inspiration of the troops during World War II. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was a brave leader for the troops, as were General George Patton and General Omar Bradley. On June 6, 1944 ( D-Day Invasion) the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy (France) to liberate the people of France from Germany. It was a massive invasion that took place on 5 different beaches at once. The United States forces landed on two of the beaches: Omaha Beach and Normandy Beach. Their efforts were heroic. By nightfall the Allies were holding French soil and marching on to Germany. Americans fought in many places including France, Germany, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Morocco, Burma, Guam, Malaysia, the Philippine Island, and Wake Island against Italy, Germany, and Japan.
It was air power that changed the war. With airplanes, cities were bombed causing massive destruction and casualties. A group of African American airmen became famous as some of the bravest warriors in the air in spite of being excluded and segregated because they were African American. Eventually, in spite of the hardships and prejudice, they became known as the Tuskegee Airmen or Red Tailed Angels because the protection they provided was superior. The term "Tuskegee Airmen" refers to all who were involved in the Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff,
instructors, and all who kept the planes in the air.
Americans on the home front did their share of heroic deeds in support of winning the war. Most citizens had to make sacrifices on behalf of the war effort. There were shortages of foods and goods such as tires and sugar, so the government issued ration stamps. Consumers could only purchase goods if they had a ration stamp. People were encouraged to grow their own food and extra food to share in gardens called "Victory Gardens." People also sent care packages to the hungry soldiers who had to live on C-rations during the war. More working women were needed as the factories ramped up for war production. A campaign was launched to attract women into the work force and war effort. The campaign focused on patriotism. Women who took the war related factory jobs were praised. Rosie the Riveter became a symbol of the women who worked during the war effort. Women also trained as volunteers to scan the skies to watch for and report enemy
planes and the coastal seas for enemy boats.
Throughout the war, President Roosevelt kept the American people informed through his "fireside chats". There were no televisions at the time, so people listened to the news from radios. Roosevelt‟s "fireside chats" helped people to know what was going on during the war. Roosevelt had not forgotten that he, as President, was a servant to the people. At his fourth inauguration as President of the United States he stated, "We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community. We have learned the simple truth, as Emerson said, that „the only way to have a friend is to be one."
President Roosevelt knew that war times brought destruction and a loss of lives. He also knew they were full of achievement and innovation. The world war years for Americans was also a time when technological developed rapidly. As a result of the war there were many scientific discoveries and inventions in communication, transportation, radar, and medicine that benefit society to this day. Music, art, writing, and journalism changed and grew by leaps and bounds, as well.
Society changed for women, for minorities and for immigrants, making way for more hopeful exciting lives to come. The war years brought sadness and sacrifice, and they also brought change and new ideas for America. Americans were never the same after living through World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Most Americans appreciated having a strong, decisive leader such as President Roosevelt to lead them during these hard times.
Germany‟s leader (dictator) was Adolf Hitler. He was a soldier during World War I and was angered about the losses and war reparations Germany had to pay after WWI. People in Germany experienced, like many other countries at the time, economic depression, and hopelessness. Hitler rose to power within a few years.
Exactly how did the United States become involved in another world war after the majority of Americans were not in favor of ever getting involved in another world war? The most shocking event for Americans was when Japan launched a surprise air attack on the U.S. in Pearl Harbor (naval base in Hawaii) on December 7th, 1941. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt responded to the attack with a quick and courageous decision. In response to the shocking attack, the President and Congress declared war on Japan. The United States officially entered World War II on the side of the Allies. The United States was at war from December 8, 1941 through September 1945.
Several Americans became famous heroes for their leadership, organization, and inspiration of the troops during World War II. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was a brave leader for the troops, as were General George Patton and General Omar Bradley. On June 6, 1944 ( D-Day Invasion) the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy (France) to liberate the people of France from Germany. It was a massive invasion that took place on 5 different beaches at once. The United States forces landed on two of the beaches: Omaha Beach and Normandy Beach. Their efforts were heroic. By nightfall the Allies were holding French soil and marching on to Germany. Americans fought in many places including France, Germany, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Morocco, Burma, Guam, Malaysia, the Philippine Island, and Wake Island against Italy, Germany, and Japan.
It was air power that changed the war. With airplanes, cities were bombed causing massive destruction and casualties. A group of African American airmen became famous as some of the bravest warriors in the air in spite of being excluded and segregated because they were African American. Eventually, in spite of the hardships and prejudice, they became known as the Tuskegee Airmen or Red Tailed Angels because the protection they provided was superior. The term "Tuskegee Airmen" refers to all who were involved in the Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff,
instructors, and all who kept the planes in the air.
Americans on the home front did their share of heroic deeds in support of winning the war. Most citizens had to make sacrifices on behalf of the war effort. There were shortages of foods and goods such as tires and sugar, so the government issued ration stamps. Consumers could only purchase goods if they had a ration stamp. People were encouraged to grow their own food and extra food to share in gardens called "Victory Gardens." People also sent care packages to the hungry soldiers who had to live on C-rations during the war. More working women were needed as the factories ramped up for war production. A campaign was launched to attract women into the work force and war effort. The campaign focused on patriotism. Women who took the war related factory jobs were praised. Rosie the Riveter became a symbol of the women who worked during the war effort. Women also trained as volunteers to scan the skies to watch for and report enemy
planes and the coastal seas for enemy boats.
Throughout the war, President Roosevelt kept the American people informed through his "fireside chats". There were no televisions at the time, so people listened to the news from radios. Roosevelt‟s "fireside chats" helped people to know what was going on during the war. Roosevelt had not forgotten that he, as President, was a servant to the people. At his fourth inauguration as President of the United States he stated, "We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community. We have learned the simple truth, as Emerson said, that „the only way to have a friend is to be one."
President Roosevelt knew that war times brought destruction and a loss of lives. He also knew they were full of achievement and innovation. The world war years for Americans was also a time when technological developed rapidly. As a result of the war there were many scientific discoveries and inventions in communication, transportation, radar, and medicine that benefit society to this day. Music, art, writing, and journalism changed and grew by leaps and bounds, as well.
Society changed for women, for minorities and for immigrants, making way for more hopeful exciting lives to come. The war years brought sadness and sacrifice, and they also brought change and new ideas for America. Americans were never the same after living through World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Most Americans appreciated having a strong, decisive leader such as President Roosevelt to lead them during these hard times.
