role of the United States in World War II

 role of the United States in World War II

Originally, the role of the United States in World War II was not clear to Americans. Americans were divided on whether to join the war or avoid it altogether. Between the 1930s and 1940s, the war consumed a significant proportion of Asia and Europe. Still, there was no substantial manner at which the United States would respond. Isolationism was dominant in the American political landscape during this time. Thousands of Americans were killed or critically injured during the conflict that started during the First World War. The then united states President Woodrow tried to find a permanent solution for lasting peace, but the country’s leadership failed to materialize the dream. Americans felt like their efforts were not appreciated and regretted being actively involved in the global stage in 1917. The nation was in an excellent isolation mood, and not even Hitler’s power made enough effort to lift the nation’s spirit for war. The majority of the United States citizens believed that the best way to serve the nation’s interest was to avoid the war and stay out of foreign conflict.

Americans believed that they needed to focus on problems that faced them locally, such as dealing with the effects of the Great Depression. Even Congress passed some acts that sought to ban America from participating in foreign wars or even trading with nations that were actively involved in the war. BY 1940, America had deteriorated just like other nations, and the effect could not be ignored. Only Great Britain survived as the major European power nation. The situation became urgent, and this heightened the discussion in the United States. The country had gradually begun to realize that the country’s best interests were not served by staying away from the war. Even at this point, isolationists still believed that World War II was a foreign nations’ affair and that there was no compelling reason to participate in the war. The power of the US military and neutrality kept the nation safe from attacks as Europeans sorted their issues. In 1941, Lindbergh asserted that the country should be ready to fight any state that meddled with Western affairs.

Interventionists believed that the United States must have been actively involved in the war, particularly in Europe. They believed that democracies in Western Europe were a critical line of defense. The country risked being isolated since seas, and a dictator controlled a more extensive territory. A more significant section of interventionists believed that it was inevitable for the US army to participate in the Second World War. However, some sections of interventionists were not convinced that there was reason enough for the United States to join the war. The chairman of the interventionists came out strongly and defended the opinion to send their troops to foreign soil. He said that the best way to keep the country out of the war was to help Britain. It was not prudent for such a powerful nation to escape danger by avoiding the war. The events in Europe had significantly impacted the opinions of many Americans about the war. When a poll was conducted, the majority of Americans were against the idea of declaring war against the Axis powers in Europe. Soon after, France fell, and Germany started to campaign against Great Britain. The British Royal Air Force said that Hitler was not invincible. Towards the end of 1940, over half of America’s population was of the opinion that the US must risk engaging in the war to support the British. As the standoff between Germany and Britain intensified, more Americans believed that it’s high time the country sends its troops to the war zone.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, it was clear that the US needed to join the war. The debate of whether or not to join the war ended the day after the attack, and the Congress went into voting. Congress voted anonymously to enter World War II with just one dissenting vote. The country declared war against Imperial Japan. After the declaration, Japan’s allies-Germany and Italy in response declared war against the United States. The attacks on Pearl Harbor intensified, and the change of these realities made Americans to join the war and to support it aggressively. At this point, the isolation could not help the nation.

After the United States joined the war, the Axis cause was primarily doomed. America had 40 million fewer citizens compared to its allies but managed to mobilize the same amounts of soldiers of 12 million that the Soviet Union. America turned out to be the greatest generation to become a mass-produce merchant ship from scratch in a week. The United States started growing faster than other major war powers. The country would produce more airplanes than all the rival nations combined in unit time. The Soviet Union, Germany, Italy, and Japan all failed to produce a four-engine heavy bomber successfully. Contrary, the United States produced over 34,000 excellent bombers of different categories.

America sent troops to Western Europe, Italy, North Africa, and the Pacific Islands. It launched two bombing campaigns simultaneously against Japan and Germany. During the same period, the country supplied thousands of railcars, heavy trucks, locomotives, food, planes, clothing, and strategic resources to the Soviet Union. The US was responsible for over 20% of the supply of munitions to Britain by 1944. America aced the war in terms of wartime success and easy defeat and humiliation of enemies. The war cost the US the least both in treasure and blood since the US lost the least soldiers. Additionally, only the US faced little to no homeland bombing compared to the major superpowers. Also, of any major power country, the United States lost the least of its population. By the end of 1944, America produced the best class of weapons of the time. America may not have won the war alone, but it was the major player and, eventually, the victor of the Second World War. Without the United States, the war against Axis fascism would most probably have been lost.

The Second World War transformed the country’s standing in the world significantly because it was the only country that emerged from the war most potent and victorious. After the war, the country has even a stronger military force and a more robust economy compared to other countries that were actively involved in the war. A global financial system was formed to coordinate global economy to prevent the occurrence of another great Depression. The competition made the United States to form its first permanent non-wartime alliance. The competition also made the country’s military the strongest in the world and to grow its military further. As a result, the country’s political presence around the world was felt stronger than before. The United States took advantage of the political influence to spread communism hence leading to interventions in nations like Vietnam. Consequently, the US could not withdraw from the international commitments it had started and alliances even after the Soviet Union fell. Instead, it used the chance to preach prosperity and peace across nations. This way, the United States became the world’s superpower and the most connected nation. The nation, through various leadership, has tried to maintain its position and commitments in the international realm.