Living Demands An Identity : A Global Power On The World Essay

The American home front during World War II is recalled warmly in popular memory and cultural myth as a time of unprecedented national unity, years in which Americans stuck together in common cause. World War II brought many new ideas and changes to American life. Even though World War II brought no physical destruction to the United States mainland, it did affect American society. Every aspect of American life was altered by U.S. involvement in the war including demographics, the labor force, economics and cultural trends.

Ever since the beginning of time, there has been conflict and conflict will always play a role in the development of history. The world has experienced hundreds of wars with countless casualties, these wars date back to the 10th Century and forward to the present. The United States of America is no stranger to war having participated in over 100 wars either it being a small war or a world war. Michael C. C. Adams “The Best War Ever” gives a rational explanation on the events that led the U.S to become the powerhouse country after sacrificing so much for the war, or did they? In this paper we will support the argument made in Adams “The Best War Ever” Chapter four, appropriately titled “The American War Machine”, other primary sources used will be such as Harry S. Truman first speech to congress in April 1945 and General George S. Patton’s praise speech to the Third Army. The argument being that the U.S did in fact play an impacting role in the outcome of World War 2 but how it also used appearances as an advantage to further develop itself as an international force, just like the tale from the Trojan War, the Trojan horse was all about appearances but with a precise objective.

Some argue that globalization will, on the long term, bring all cultures as a unique Western, if not Americanized, culture, while others argue that some cultures will persist in order to keep their own essence and therefore avoid the homogenization of all cultures. Alongside pure tradition, global conflicts, contradictory political regimes and the diversity of economic systems, some cultures are bound to face issues when trying to fully fit in a global western culture, and that is why cultures are adaptable to one another, but with some limits that we will express in this essay.

World War II had a profound impact on the United States. Although no battles occurred on the American mainland, the war affected all phases of American life. It demanded a monumental production effort to provide the materials necessary to fight. As the United States produced the weapons of war and became, in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s phrase, the “arsenal of democracy,” the country experienced fundamental changes of economic and social patterns at home in regards to equality for both women and blacks that provided the template for the postwar years.

The 20th century brought with it a plethora of technological advancements that acted as a catalyst for an important and lasting shift in the United State’s perception of its role in the world. Technological advancement in travel and communication changed the American people’s views of the world, therefore changing the direction of American foreign policy. This shift in foreign policy would eventually lead the United States into the grips of two horrific wars on the European continent. However, these wars would provide the necessary environment for the country to establish itself as the leader of the international system – a title it would desperately need tin order to attempt to create a new, less conflict-ridden global order. Though World

Bloodied, battered, tired, and wounded, American soldiers returned home from the long and arduous battles of World War II. Yet, they did so smiling because their nation had won. They returned to a nation unscathed by the war with a newly booming economy and leading technology. Following World War II, America had broken free from its decade of depression and launched itself into a position of world power. Being the only nation at the time with nuclear weaponry, the United States held considerable sway in the outcomes of the world, accepting a new role as the head of international politics. Prosperity, wealth, and advancements surged through the veins of the country at an exponential rate. Yet, without such a crucial turning point in United States

Introduction In 1941, the United States of America faced the prospect of war. The old world order of imperial empires had fallen apart, and it seemed destined to end an inglorious blaze of destruction made possible by modern technologies of war like tanks, airplanes, machine guns, and submarines, among other things to make way for the new order to come. The United States, being both a Pacific and Atlantic power, found itself in the middle of it all and for various cultural, economic, and political reasons, it was hesitant to accept the burdens and responsibilities of international engagement that came along with the tremendous wealth and power they had almost stumbled upon in the twentieth century. At its foundation the United States did not

On December 7th, 1941, the United States of America was heaved into World War II after Japan attacked the American naval convoy in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day after the Japanese’s surprise attack, America and Great Britain both declared war on Japan. The Second World War was histories greatest and most noteworthy armed conflict. It served as the environment for the current arrangement of security and intellect, and for the postwar power stability that shaped the agenda for the Cold War. World War II partook with around 50 allied nations, one of the most renowned was The United States of America.3 The American industry provided almost two-thirds of all of the allied military equipment produced during the war, and because of this, in four years alone, Americas industrial production doubled in size even with it already being the largest at the time. After the attack, everyday living throughout the nation was considerably affected. Normal goods such as food, gas, and clothing were rationed heavily.1 The communities created scrap metal drives and changed the standard role of women in order to build necessary weaponries to win the war.1 Even though America was experiencing great economic growth, undoubtedly this war and its associated atrocities would have a death toll of around 50 million military and civilian peoples, in the military deaths alone The United States of America lost 400,000.1 World War II not only disturbed the economy of the United States, but it also

entered a relatively short period of imperialism, and expanded its interests into the Pacific Ocean and East Asia when it occupied the Philippines and commandeered Hawaii in 1898 (Cox & Stokes, 2012, p. 33). As the U.S. continued to grow in strength and influence within the global community, it was evident that its isolationist based foreign policy was no longer practical. This realization was made further apparent by the consequences of the industrial revolution, wherein the U.S. was no longer completely isolated between European powers. As a result, the U.S. pursued an approach to spread democracy within the global community including, but not limited to, the various states, international organizations, and international law – this concept is known as the U.S.’ open-minded, or liberal, internationalist agenda (p. 23). Whereas isolationists resist the idea of the U.S. becoming actively involved in international relations, internationalists support that notion, as well as the U.S.’ participation in various global issues and organizations, such as the United Nations (Cox & Stokes, 2012, p. 162). Furthermore, the characteristic and ideology of internationalism is fundamentally the historical nature of the U.S.’ foreign

World War II brought monumental movements, struggles, and massive regrets to the United States. The constructive effects of the war, such as vast numbers of women joining the workforce, overshadowed pitiful mistakes like Japanese internment camps. For every negative result of the war effort, for example increased rations on everyday necessities, there was an optimistic outlook on life, often provided by radios. The United States transformed in many ways, but emerged stronger than ever at the war’s end.

Following World War I, and into the beginning of World War II, the United States of America was still recuperating from the first war, and therefore did not engage. The focus was reestablishing the military in the form of personnel and equipment. It was becoming evident that the forward shift in technology was forcing

World War II had a considerable influence on the United States. It is agreed by many historians that WWII was as surely won on the American homefront as it was on the actual battlefield. In 1939, compared to that of its enemies, American preparation for war was by far lacking. After just four year, The United States became a “military superpower.” According to a comparative study by Richard Overy, about two-thirds of all Allied military equipment produced during the war was provided by American industry. Companies that would normally produce everyday vehicles (such as automobiles) began to manufacture tanks and aircrafts. Although no battles were fought on the mainland, the war still heavily affected all ways of American life. It heavily affected political, economica, and corporate industry.

In “The Case for Contamination”, the author, Kwame Anthony Appiah uses his article to argue that globalization isn’t always a bad thing and that forcefully preserving cultural institutions does more harm than good. He uses examples to show how the world is being ‘Contaminated’. By “Contamination’, he is referring to the mixture of values, cultures and traditions. Globalization doesn’t always mean assimilation. People tend to fear change. Appiah encourages others to learn more about different culture and traditions, and throughout the article he dismisses the idea that societies changing and adopting cultural practices of other societies are inherently negative. People should be able to choose what they value and what not to value in their

“The world the American people had tried to exclude after the First World War could not forever be kept at bay.” (The Great Depression and World War II;Kennedy, David). World War II began in the year 1939 and lasted until 1945. (history.com,Pearl Harbor) Many of the issues that arose during the Second World War was initial baggage from the First World War. The Treaty of Versailles was the reason why the First World War ended between the Allied Powers and Germany. (history.com). During this time, the United States wanted as little involvement with Europe’s controversies. Meanwhile, the United States did not know at the time that Japan was a threat to our country because of unresolved issues prior to Pearl Harbor. (history.com). The common denominator between both of our countries in this era was that we were both in financial crises. (Gilder Legrman, Institure of American History) The United States was suffering from the Great Depression and Japan was in a financial crisis. One of the reasons that the United States was not in favor of Japan was because we did not support their attacks on China. “The United States allied with China when Japan declared war on China in 1937” (Office of The Historian). “The United States responded to the aggression with a battery of economic sanctions and trade embargoes” (Pearl Harbor and the road to war, history.com). Japan was upset

The United States prevails as an ever-evolving, unique amalgamation of people, cultures, and influences. Due to the growth of technology use in the world, globalization, the process of interaction and integration among people, is spreading rapidly ("What Is Globalization?”). Historically, people have often identified in a collective way in order to associate with a group, culture, or individual (Miladinovic). However, nowadays, this form of identification cannot be used as people are changing the way with they identify with others, due to the considerable influence of globalization. Though typically used as an economic term, globalization is characterized through a multitude of other factors as well. The onset of globalization has especially influenced culture and identity, most pivotally through industrialization. When smaller cultures are forced to urbanize as a result of globalization, people question modern culture and may even culturally re-evaluate their own culture. As a result, people often abandon their traditional cultures in favor of a conforming to homogeneous mainstream ‘American culture’. In turn with this, psychologically, people impacted by globalization become uncertain of their identity, not knowing which culture to claim: that of their ancestors or that of mainstream American culture. Consequently, people have started to distinguish themselves in a whole new way: through either self-made cultures or through the adoption of a blend of traditional and new