EFFECTS OF WORLD WARS I AND II ON THE U.S.

EFFECTS OF WORLD WARS I AND II ON THE UNITED STATES

This research paper examines from a critical issues point of view the effects of World War I (WW I) and World War II (WW II) of the American economy and human/social movements in the United States.

Both world wars powerfully transformed the American economy, especially WW II, because of its longer duration and greater scale. The world wars greatly enhanced prosperity. The United States emerged from WW I as the world's leading creditor nation and financial power. Massive federal government military spending in WW II effectively ended the Depression. The world wars helped ensure postwar economic progress. Both wars, especially WW II, greatly expanded the role of government in the economy. Mobilization of resources and war financing were handled better in 1942-1945 than in 1917-1918.

The world wars caused massive migrations, displacement and new opportunities for many Americans. Both wars contributed to a strong sense of national unity, but the role of government in WW I enhanced nativistic sentiment and suppression of civil liberties. WW II, the 'Good War,' was popular, but generated some egregious racist excesses such as the internment of Japanese-Americans. Groups such as women and to a lesser extent, African-Americans and other racial/ethnic minorities, benefitted from the wars; however, the government did little to ease their plight. The cause of social reform was blunted in both world wars; nevertheless, progress w

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and favored Big Business which had the capital to finance, with the government's help, the large-scale investments involved in conversion to war production. Human/Social Effects Human costs. The human costs in terms of casualties were much lower for the United States than for any other major belligerent. The number killed in action in WW I was 116,000 (Galbraith 19). The comparable figure in WW II was 292,000 (Finding & Thackway 64). Millions of men and their families were, however, uprooted. Jeffries said that in WW I America was "a nation on the move" (69). Sixteen million people entered the armed services. According to Holt, one person in five moved away from home in search of employment (118). The new war industries such as aircraft factories and shipyards were largely located in the Sunbelt. Quickie marriages proliferated. Holt said "the divorce rate soared, as did the birth rate and life expectancy" (118). Gains made by minorities and fate of social reform. Wartime demand in 1917-1918 coupled with the absence of millions of men and the cessation of immigration opened employment for many women and, to a lesser extent, African-Americans and other minorities. Women filled many jobs formerly filled by men and entered man

Category: History - E