The Gobal War This paper will identify major historical turning points during War World II and

through the 1970s while analyzing the impact the war had on Americas current society, economy, politics and culture. I will also discuss why America in the late 1930s wanted to stay out of the European conflict that became WWII, which is one of the greatest debates of all time. We examine the important role that women played in winning the war and what outcomes came from their hard work that impacted women today. Many civil rights movements developed during this time also, and we discuss many breakthroughs that moved African Americans forward because of the war. I will describe ways in which the Vietnam War brought political awareness to a new generation of young Americans and to conclude I talk about Presidents Johnsons Great Society agenda that are still in place today that we benefit from if it had not been for the war. All these things are what make WWII known for the Greatest War of all time even after World War I. Identify at least two (2) major historical turning points in the period under discussion. The war prompted a tremendous mobilization of American resources, at a level unseen since the Civil War. Long-quiet industries were revitalized, the agricultural sector started to grow again, and the American economy ramped up from that of the low production of the Great Depression years to the most powerful economy in the world. The economy showed the most remarkable improvement. World War II initiated the most significant federal management of the economy in American History. When the war began, President Roosevelt implemented the War Production Board (WPB) to steer the economy into manufacturing weapons rather than consumer goods. Under WPB contracts, Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors shifted from making cars to producing tanks and airplanes. Firestone, Goodyear, and B.F Goodrich ceased production of civilian car tires and made tires for jeeps, trucks, and airplanes. Farmers produced crops in record amounts as well. The expansion of the economy increased the size of the labor force. On one hand, 12 million Americans joined the armed forces, subtracting them from the domestic labor pool. On the other hand, formerly depressed industries were now replete with contracts, hiring men and women at unprecedented levels. This need for workers was a boon to unions. Union membership grew from 9 million in 1940 to nearly 15 million in 1945. From 1947 to 1960, the gross national product doubled. Wages went up, inflation stayed low, and leisure activities became accessible to more and more Americans. So did comforts like electricity, air conditioning and indoor plumbing. The changed occurred because Americans were spending more due to higher wages, veterans benefits, and demand that had been restrained during wartime. Things like dishwashers, washing machines, and televisions rapidly moved from luxuries to necessities. Another turning point was women roles had changed dramatically during the war, which I will go into much detail later. The military experience was also a eye opening for farm boys, city dwellers, musicians, college students, artists, skill technicians etc., serving together not to mention the mixing of racial and ethnic groups and men of different geographic areas brought new perspectives to the men who served in WWII, that led to several Civil Rights changes after the war had ended. Analyze the impact of the two or more major historical turning points selected on Americas current society, economy, politics, and culture. Out of the expanded economy, two products transformed American life more than any other: Television and the automobile. In the 1950s, the technology behind the television was perfected, and it

immediately became immensely popular. By the end of the decade, television was perfected, and it immediately became immensely popular. The automobile was also transformed American life, and the 1950s were the years when cars were made accessible to many in the middle and lower classes By the end of the decade, eight in ten Americans owned at least one car. This created the expansion of roads and the beginning of Suburban life, since everyone could afford to drive to a job in the city which resulted to the end of segregation. In todays society we see the advancement of technology, more suburban cities and people of all races living together as this was not so before the war. Give at least two (2) reasons that Americans in the late 1930s wanted to stay out of the European conflict that became World War II. Memories of the first World War made many Americans leery to get involved in European affairs. The brutality of the First World War further made Americans shy away from any involvement in European affairs. Also, the great depression deepened this isolationism. Most Americans were too focused on improving life in the United States to advocate getting involved in diplomatic disputes abroad. At the same time, some Americans had profound respect for Adolf Hitler, who had, after all plucked Germany from its own economic depression in record time. Explain the role that women played to help win World War II. The role women played in the United States during World War II grew, as mentioned before, as the need for their services outside the traditional home increased. Despite facing discrimination, they took jobs in defense plants for economic advancement and to help the war cause. Women also, played a direct role in the war, largely as nurses. American women entered the ranks of factory workers helping the American Industry meet the war time production demands for planes, tanks, ships, and weapons. Women took on countless jobs that the men normally held when they were on the home front. They also plowed fields, paved streets, and ran hospitals. They made sure that the troops were supplied food, clothing, and weapons. By taking on various job tasks, women showed that they were highly capable in diverse fields, and that they were not just good for domestic duties and raising children. Without the bravery and courage of these women, would we have won the war? Would our economy have survived? Describe At least two civil rights breakthroughs after World War II that moved the cause of AfricanAmericans forward. During the war blacks participated in the war more and just as wartime demand for labor created opportunities for women, it opened doors for African Americans. The movement to challenge racial bias in employment began in the early 1940s. The goal was to pressure the government to develop and enforce antidiscrimination measures in the industries that had lucrative defense contracts and to end segregation in the military. The threat of a march on the capitol provoked President Roosevelt to issue an Executive Order 8802, which established the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC), which required companies with federal contracts to make jobs available without regard to race, creed, color, or national origin. Between 1942 and 1945, the number of African Americans in labor unions doubled to more than 1 million. The average annual wage for African Americans quadrupled in the war years from $457 to $1,976. Another breakthrough was the high courts passed a law that enabled black children to have the same education opportunities as white children. The Supreme Court ruled that separate educational facilities for black and white people were inherently unequal. Describe at least two (2) ways in which the Vietnam War brought political awareness to a new generation of young Americans.

The tactics, strategies and ultimate success of the civil rights movement helped to inspire others who realized that they too had power to work toward a change. In addition to the civil rights movement, there was a large youthful population that felt empowered to make a difference. Sit ins and protest began in the Deep South states of Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia. Multiple causes got championed, such as, women rights, civil rights, gay rights, environmentalism, and the Vietnam War. Describe at least two (2) programs of President Johnsons Great Society agenda that are still with us today. In August 1964, Johnson persuaded Congress to pass the Economic Opportunity Ace (EOA), designed to attack poverty. The EOA comprised a number of agencies and programs including, Head Start (A child development program for disadvantaged preschoolers), Volunteers in Service to America (or VISTA, to recruit volunteers for antipoverty programs), and work training programs (Job Corps) for inner city youth. Johnson called for stronger civil rights laws, the reform of immigration laws, the creation of cultural programs, and the expansion of Social Security. A flurry of new laws passed between 1965 and 1968 constructed the American system of social welfare that existed through the Clinton administration. The first Great Society measure passed into law in April 1965, the Elementary and Secondary School Act, which granted $1.3 billion to school districts on the basis of how many students in that district lived in poverty. In the early 1960s, millions of elderly and poor Americans lacked adequate health care. Johnson insisted that the government remedy this situation which created Medicare, which provided medical insurance for the elderly and Medicaid, which helped finance medical treatment for the poor. This was just a few of Presidents Johnsons agenda but other Great Society acts similarly expanded the purview of the federal government in the areas of health, safety, and culture that are still with us today.

References Spielvogal, Jackson J. Western Civilization. Belmont, Calif. Wadsworth, 2006 www.academicamerican.com Cengage Learning History Volume II