America’s intervention in World War II completely changed the scope of World War II and was so significant, that the impacts are still prevalent today. World War II is the deadliest war in human history and accounted for the deaths of approximately 60 million people. Over the course of the war, countless countries were completely wiped off the map. Civilians experienced great suffering from starvation and made up a large sum of the war’s death toll as a result of bombings. Still today, World War II is a topic many find disturbing and upsetting. However, despite the ugliness of the war, it did have its share of positive effects. America’s intervention in World War II positively affected the country socially, economically, and politically.
Before diving into how America benefited from World War II, it is important to first have a full understanding of what led to this horrific war. In a broad prospective, World War II began in Fall 1939 when Great Britain and France declared war on Germany after its invasion of Poland. However, the causes of the war are much complex and some even linger back to the end of World War I. The Treaty of Versailles, which put a cap on World War I, is known to have been a key cause of the Second World War. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson met with the leaders of England, France, and Italy to determine the terms of the treaty. President Woodrow Wilson wanted to take a conservative approach in which he believed Europe would return to sense of peacefulness. On the other hand, Georges Clemenceau sought to seek revenge on Germany. In the end, the two sides had to come to a compromise. The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to take full responsibility for staring the First World War, pay reparations for the damages of the war, downgrade the size of its military and navy, and give land to other countries. Despite be reluctant to, Germany agreed to the treaty. The citizens of Germany believed that the treaty was unjust. Also, Germany was very poor at the time, and there was no way they could pay the reparations. Unhappy with their government, the citizens of Germany went to the polls and elected Adolf Hitler who promised to disparage the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler’s actions were also among the causes of World War II. Hitler took over control of Germany in January 1933 and did not waste any time to defy the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. He quickly began to strengthen the German army and increased its arsenal. Hitler did not stop at just bolstering his army. In 1934, Hitler commissioned the creation of a Navy and Airforce which again went against the treaty. Two years later, Hitler made two major alliances with Italy and Japan, both of which would remain allies throughout the war. Hitler would later go on to reclaim Anschluss which had previously been handed over by Germany. On September 1, 1939, Hitler’s troops invaded Poland which would prove to be the ultimate factor, for Great Britain and France had previously warned Hitler that they would go to war if he invaded Poland.
In addition to the Treaty of Versailles and Hitler’s actions, the failures of the League of Nations also contributed to World War II. The League of Nations was created in 1919 and was designed to keep countries from going to war but rather settle disputes peacefully. However, the organization was faulty. The major problem with the League of Nations was that not all countries joined the organization. As a result of an anti-communism ideology, Russia was not allowed to join. In addition to Russia, Germany was also not allowed to join the organization, because they were to blame for starting World War I. However, the United States electing not to join was the most troubling. In 1920, control of the United States’ government shifted to the Republican Party because of the election of Warren G. Harding. Also, many Americans were resentful of how World War I had transpired and believed that by joining the League of Nations America would therefore be in the center of all European conflicts. Moreover, the League of Nations also lacked the power it needed to be successful. The League of Nations urged countries to stop trading with Japan and Italy after they had invaded Manchuria and Abyssinia, respectively (both were key actions that led to WWII). Despite being asked to end trade with Japan and Italy, countries continued to do so because they feared losing vital trade partners during a worldwide depression. Japan would eventually leave the League of Nations. A third problem with the League of Nations was that they were unable to act quickly. The organization’s council only met a handful times a year; therefore, they had to call “emergency meetings” when countries wanted their help. Therefore, the League of Nation’s effectiveness was delayed and at times limited. A fourth cause of World War II, which ultimately tied America to the war, was Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base in Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack was a surprise despite prior ongoing disputes. Japan’s attack was strictly aerial and consisted of hundreds of fighter planes.