Preview

How Have Our Views on War Changed over Time?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1126 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Have Our Views on War Changed over Time?
How have our views on war changed over time?

Nothing can impact society like war. War can be viewed as noble and just, or cruel and inhuman, as well as everything in between. War affects everyone in society whether they are fighting in a foreign country or waiting at home for a loved one to return. War is an indispensable part of civilization; found at every chapter of human history. It is the culmination of the basic survival instinct when provoked. As has the technique of battle; society's view on war has changed as well. Today the act of war has become almost shameful, whereas in earlier eras war was glorified and heroic. American society's view on war has changed also. Our history, even as a young country has seen a great deal of conflict.
We've come a long way since the early styles of warfare seen in the American Revolution and the Civil War. World War I was the first war where the United States proved to the world we were a formidable power. Made up almost entirely of immigrants, America sent to Europe an armed force the fight against the Germans. The war brought a divided nation together as one. It represented pride and unity. The World War I victory portrayed the United States as a world superpower. Americans living in the early 1900s saw the war as a "just cause", and supported our actions abroad. World War II came just 20 years later. This time it was a single attack that drew us into the war. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led us into World War II. The country furious with the cowardly assault; rallied, and stood behind the President's decision to send troops to the South Pacific and Europe. The American view on the war was very supportive. The country went to work manufacturing equipment offsetting the economic failure of the depression the United States was dealing with previous to the war. Engaging in the war in Vietnam brought a whole different set of "American Views" to the topic of war. This time the country did not

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Vietnam War, among the most controversial wars to occur in history, had used speeches to persuade the American population to believe it was right.…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    After the worlds wars, America was different then everyone else. They were not affected by the war like the other nations in Europe. The devastation wasn’t as prominent in the U.S. like it was everywhere else. This created a specific sensation in the actions of America, specifically the political, social, and cultural ideas, and their foreign policy.…

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    By the end of World War I, the United States grew increasingly isolationistic in its policies. Even though the United States emerged from the war as one of the victors, the American people were greatly dispirited by the devastation. Many hoped to return to the peaceful decade before the war. Isolationism, according to the people at that time, seemed to be the only way to avoid foreign entanglements that would lead to another war.…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    World War 1

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages

    When World War 1 broke out in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the United States neutral. Although U.S. soldiers did not fight until 1917, the country was never technically impartial in the conflict. Cultural and economic ties, U.S. predilection, and global political ideals manifested a tip in American scales toward the Allies, ultimately leading to the nation’s entrance in World War 1.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    However, as the war went on peoples attitude towards the war began to change, the more people thought about it the more they realised it was more of a civil war rather than war about communism which lead to the thought that it wasn’t our war to fight. Unlike other wars in the past, the Vietnam War was the first war to be filmed and broadcasted on the media, for the first time the public was able to see the violence and brutal effects of war. The war was also negatively published in newspapers, '... The…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There were a number of reason that why did many Americans oppose US involvement in the Vietnam War, however public knew US had to stop the spreading of communism.…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    World War I changed America greatly. It had an obvious effect on the way we handle business on the home front. Propaganda, rationing, and political views all played a part on American citizens in World War I.…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When World War One began in 1914, Americans wanted nothing to do with it. The national government agreed with the people and proclaimed our neutrality. As the war went on, the United States found it harder to remain neutral. Their attachment to Mother England made them more sympathetic to the Allies, but they would not let their attachment pull them into war. The popular opinion of the United States citizens was to still stay out of World War One but other nations, specifically Germany, would not respect our neutrality. Germans sank US passenger boats, like the Lusitania, and sent the Zimmerman telegram to Mexico and both these things angered us. The thing that was one of the big causes of our entrance into the war was Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare.…

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    World War II resulted in the death of thousands, destruction all over Europe, and the cost of billions of dollars. Europe had to deal with a divided Germany and a divided Berlin where half of the country was under communist rule and the other half was under Democratic rule. The people of Berlin were in desperate need and Truman sent food, medicine, fuel, and clothing. In contrast, America was stronger and more prosperous than before. A sense of nationalism spread all throughout the country similar to the sense of pride after World War I. The Americans were optimistic, they had money in their pockets, and soldiers were reunited with their sweethearts. American life greatly changed politically, socially, and economically after World War II.…

    • 872 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    War- a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict, typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War is inevitable; people thrive on the idea of war, engaging in bloody affairs, a chance to fight for their freedom and Americas freedom. The public reads of these bloody affairs, in the headlines splattered all over the television screen, imagining in their head the idea of war, the idea of blood, dead bodies, and weapons. Images of war would only put fear and anger into Americans, yet in times of war, the media has an obligation to provide the citizens of America, with these images of war, even if they are terrifying, violent, and bloody. If Americans do not even see what the media and news executives sees then how are they to know where their lives are held and how to react to the consequences of war, which they must pay? Americans should not know of the consequences, they should not have to worry, or create stress upon themselves about the idea of engaging in bloody affairs, however, the media has an obligation to provide the public with the most complete coverage possible, regardless of the consequences, for in providing Americans with the most complete coverage possible, they are able to accept war and violence, they are able to better understand the idea of war and its effects upon them, and they are able to make smart decisions in how to react if war was ever in their reach.…

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Soldiers Thoughts

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Zachary Scott-Singley wrote an essay called “A Soldiers Thoughts”. His essay was based on his inner thoughts and questions, how he should and shouldn’t feel about war. Is war right or wrong? Are these people truly the enemy? What would you do to stay alive? I feel war leaves these questions open to discussion and defiantly can change based on the person and the involvement; but the work of war can change a person’s values and morals.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    With the beginning of World War I, American nationalism led to two different viewpoints on whether America should enter the war with the Allies. The side that favored entering the war argued that they should join due to attacks on American citizens, similar culture to Allies, and more money invested with the Allies. When the U.S. decided to go to war, they argued they were fighting for democracy and that the Germans were evil which they portrayed through propaganda and censorship. The people against going to war argued that this was not America’s war and that America is a land of peace, and if America went to war it would only be for the money at the cost of American lives. Even with the major points that the people against the war brought…

    • 1535 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    When the second World War occurred the United States wanted no part in it, they wanted peace. Everyone was traumatised and frightened from the first World War, which only happened years prior, they weren’t prepared for what was to come with the second one. Though they were pushed into it without say when the Japanese army bombed American ships and planes at the Pearl Harbor military base in Hawaii (DeWitt 1). The United States people and military knew they had to take charge and fight for what the Japanese took from them. The Japanese stole the United States state of mind, they stole the freedom for the Japanese people which were living in America. They caused this, the United…

    • 1279 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The United States as a country never experienced an international war conflict that will significantly destroy their land, cities or cost lots of lives of innocent civilians. If the US was participating in the war it was usually under the label of rescuers. It is right that they helped to save lots of nations during the war times but sometimes we should ask was it necessary to expand the problem into the war such as Vietnam War? They wanted to protect democracy and yes, it is important but they were not fighting on their land again. The fact of not knowing what it is to suffer from huge bombing and loosing lots of innocent lives can result in different perception of the war.…

    • 1821 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    It used to be an honor to go off to war and die fighting for your country. In today’s war, the honor is all gone. It used to be an entire country’s effort; everyone became involved. Today, people are less focused on it. During World War I, the Germans were sinking American vessels ( at the time America was neutral). This enrages the American people and the result is they all pledged their support when war was declared. At the time of World War II, Americans were attacked at home. This sparked fear in the people and nationalism spread around the country as people were proud of their military. Women pitched in by taking over men’s jobs while they were fighting, and people grew victory gardens to save food. Fear of communism also made people more loyal to their democracy. As time progressed to the Vietnam War, people felt less in touch. Anti-war protests broke out and many tried to dodge the draft. Those fighting didn’t care as much about the war. Nowadays, war is less focused on as there are usually more pressing topics or people are just uninterested. We are no longer fighting at home. Dying for your country is now less glorified. Fighting used to have cause, but now you are just fighting for someone else’s arguments.…

    • 468 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays