To many American citizens, entering the war was considered to be nothing to worry about and seemingly in the distant future, since the United States had just recently ended the Great Depression. However, when the U.S. was pulled into the war, World War II,
First of all, many Americans wanted to avoid the conflict happening in Europe prior to 1941, due to the fact that the United States had just gotten out of the Great Depression. Most knew that getting involved would potentially harm the economy once again by spending money on warfare, hence jeopardizing recovery; which is why 25% of United States citizens believed that they should not give aid to either Germany or Britain (Doc 1). However, attitudes quickly shifted once the Japanese launched an air raid attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; ‘“A date which will live in infamy’” (Franklin Delanor Roosevelt). The attack on the United States caused great confusion and rage amongst citizens. People quickly changed their beliefs from neutrality to involvement and wanted to fight the Japanese and seek revenge. President Roosevelt knew that Americans would not take the attack lightly and believed that Americans will win absolute victory by banding together and persevering through the experience showing and demonstrating extreme patriotism (Doc 2). The Japanese suspected the U.S. to be scared and fearful after the attack, but in reality the attack had the complete opposite effect. The attack did not shut the U.S down but undoubtedly woke the U.S. up and essentially the Japanese had ‘“awaken a sleeping giant’” (Isoroku Yamamoto). Additionally, U.S. entry into the war transformed American society and attitudes exponentially in both good as well as bad ways. Continually, involvement in the war created many jobs and opportunities for people to work, which helped society tremendously since it was still damaged from the depression. The war also gave many women the chance to work in jobs for the first time and serve the country too under the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) which allowed women to serve in noncombat positions; hence many women worked as pilots, welders, radio operators, ambulance drivers, inspectors etc. Although the war provided many opportunities for many citizens it also had damaging aspects as well. For instance, after the Japanese bombing, many people became fearful and paranoid of Japanese- Americans and attitude toward them changed, which lead to prejudice amongst the Japanese-American citizens. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt required the removal of people of Japanese ancestry from various states and parts of the U.S. and place them in internment. For many Japanese- Americans it was a terrifying time; they wondered why they were being treated like a prisoner in their own country, their own home (Doc 3). Entry into the war was a helping hand and a curse in a sense. Also, since the U.S was …show more content…
Truman. Although Europe was liberated, only half of the battle was over and the battle with the Japanese was still yet to come. President Truman knew that the Japanese would fight to their fullest potential and saw that as the U.S. was getting closer and closer to the island and the Japanese were doing their new tactic; the kamikaze, which is a suicide plane strategy killing the pilot and target. In order to ultimately put an end to the war, Truman believed the only way was to launch an atomic bomb on Japan. Due to the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) an atomic bomb was built at a much faster rate under the secret codename the Manhattan Project. President Truman was weary about using the atomic bomb and asked for advice from his top military advisors and even Winston Churchill if it should be used; to which they all agreed that it should (Doc 8). On August 6, 1945, the U.S had dropped the first atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” on Hiroshima and three days later the atomic bomb “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki; destroying the land and the people that inhabited it. Truman knew that using the bomb would forever change the war game and that dropping the bomb as well as creating it, lead to potentially more deadly and harmful
First of all, many Americans wanted to avoid the conflict happening in Europe prior to 1941, due to the fact that the United States had just gotten out of the Great Depression. Most knew that getting involved would potentially harm the economy once again by spending money on warfare, hence jeopardizing recovery; which is why 25% of United States citizens believed that they should not give aid to either Germany or Britain (Doc 1). However, attitudes quickly shifted once the Japanese launched an air raid attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941; ‘“A date which will live in infamy’” (Franklin Delanor Roosevelt). The attack on the United States caused great confusion and rage amongst citizens. People quickly changed their beliefs from neutrality to involvement and wanted to fight the Japanese and seek revenge. President Roosevelt knew that Americans would not take the attack lightly and believed that Americans will win absolute victory by banding together and persevering through the experience showing and demonstrating extreme patriotism (Doc 2). The Japanese suspected the U.S. to be scared and fearful after the attack, but in reality the attack had the complete opposite effect. The attack did not shut the U.S down but undoubtedly woke the U.S. up and essentially the Japanese had ‘“awaken a sleeping giant’” (Isoroku Yamamoto). Additionally, U.S. entry into the war transformed American society and attitudes exponentially in both good as well as bad ways. Continually, involvement in the war created many jobs and opportunities for people to work, which helped society tremendously since it was still damaged from the depression. The war also gave many women the chance to work in jobs for the first time and serve the country too under the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) which allowed women to serve in noncombat positions; hence many women worked as pilots, welders, radio operators, ambulance drivers, inspectors etc. Although the war provided many opportunities for many citizens it also had damaging aspects as well. For instance, after the Japanese bombing, many people became fearful and paranoid of Japanese- Americans and attitude toward them changed, which lead to prejudice amongst the Japanese-American citizens. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt required the removal of people of Japanese ancestry from various states and parts of the U.S. and place them in internment. For many Japanese- Americans it was a terrifying time; they wondered why they were being treated like a prisoner in their own country, their own home (Doc 3). Entry into the war was a helping hand and a curse in a sense. Also, since the U.S was …show more content…
Truman. Although Europe was liberated, only half of the battle was over and the battle with the Japanese was still yet to come. President Truman knew that the Japanese would fight to their fullest potential and saw that as the U.S. was getting closer and closer to the island and the Japanese were doing their new tactic; the kamikaze, which is a suicide plane strategy killing the pilot and target. In order to ultimately put an end to the war, Truman believed the only way was to launch an atomic bomb on Japan. Due to the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) an atomic bomb was built at a much faster rate under the secret codename the Manhattan Project. President Truman was weary about using the atomic bomb and asked for advice from his top military advisors and even Winston Churchill if it should be used; to which they all agreed that it should (Doc 8). On August 6, 1945, the U.S had dropped the first atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” on Hiroshima and three days later the atomic bomb “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki; destroying the land and the people that inhabited it. Truman knew that using the bomb would forever change the war game and that dropping the bomb as well as creating it, lead to potentially more deadly and harmful