Preview

The Good War

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
917 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Good War
Good War The Second World War is often depicted as the “Good War” because this war is where idea of democracy, freedom, and justice prevailed against the dictatorship of the fascist government, marking the beginning of the end of imperialism in the world. Despite the destruction, death, and devastation from the war. It also helped bring in a new world order; where the United States, wartime mobilization pulled the American economy out of depression, employing millions and granting American women the chance to experienced some freedoms unattainable in pre-war society. Placing the United States as a new and powerful state. It is widely taught that the good guys, or the Allies, won, and the bad guys, or the Axis, lost the war. Encouraging Americans to believe that the reason the United States went to war and the defeat of Germany and Japan was to demonstrate the virtue of the American Way, and the superiority of our country's form of government and society. It is widely taught that, when the United States entered the war, the GIs came to liberate Europe and Asia from the tyranny of the Axis powers; and that it was the only war where there was a clear distinction of good and evil. However, the realization that the Americans entered the war after suffering from the Great Depression is usually neglected. The United States did not enter the war as a powerful ally because they previously pursued a policy of isolationism rather than rearmament during most of the 1930s. The United States found itself, at first, completely unprepared to engage in combat with the military might of Germany and Japan. Where the turning point in the war didn't come until at the Pacific on June 1943, when American airplanes crippled the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway. With the eventual victory in Europe in May 1945 and in Asia three months later, America was able to take a new position as a global superpower. Unfortunately one of the costs of winning the war was the lives of several

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Wwii: the Good War?

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Many Historians call World War II “The Good War.” The Second World war consumed every corner of the globe, pitting the world’s biggest powers against each other. There were two sides the Axis powers and the Allied Powers. The Axis included many Germany, Japan, and Italy. The Allied powers included the Soviet Union, United States, British Empire, China, and France to name a few. World War II was caused by several things. One was the Treaty of Versailles which Germany could not afford to pay. In turn they empowered a man who vowed to rip up the treaty. Two other reason were the failure of appeasement and the failure of the league of Nations. There are many reasons why people think that World War II was “The Good War,” Paul Fussell gives a good account on the subject.…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Pearl Harbor

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Pearl Harbor infuriated Americans and motivated an undivided decision to enter into World War II. On Dec. 8, 1941, the United States joined the Allied Powers, officially making the U.S’s presence known in the war. The outcome of World War II may have been entirely different if the United States had not joined the Allied Powers. Without the help of the United States, Hitler could’ve easily taken all of Europe and possibly further. The United States implemented the draft and all men from age 18 to 45 were included, creating a way to supply over 16 million troops. All automobile factories in the United States stopped production of cars and began manufacturing only vehicles and planes for the war. Women went to work in factories to make war supplies and some even joined the…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Road to World War II

    • 607 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The end of the First World War left those on both sides tired, bitter, and disillusioned with the war itself. For the Americans, who had no wish to go in the first place, the effect of the death toll would weigh heavily upon their souls. The German soldiers, on the other hand, were bitter and angry by the outcome of the war, feeling they were forced to surrender against their will by their government. These details will play a major role in the long road toward the Second World War.…

    • 607 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Best War Ever

    • 1124 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In Michael C.C. Adams’ The Best War Ever America and World War II, the author explains and clarifies the truth about the many myths in and about the war. There are many reasons as to why the war was seen as something positive and as a “good” thing for our nation. Motives such as the media and Hollywood’s glamorization of the war, economic growth within the nation after the Great Depression, and government agenda all had part in this crazy misconception we all know as “The Good War”. Even to this day, the war and life in America during the war is known as a problem free time of unity. In this paper I am going to depict a few of the myths unveiled in Adams’ book and analyze them and find ways in which they are connected to each other.…

    • 1124 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Best War Ever

    • 797 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Best War Ever: America and World War II, by Michael C.C. Adams uses memoirs, and glorifying aspects of the war, to compare the misleading accounts of the war that had been created by historians and the media. During wartime America was considered to be at its prime. America industry was flourishing, American soldiers were the toughest, and the American people were united as a well-integrated family. The images reflected, portrayed a positive image of the war. Truthfully the war was not a great war, in fact the images of WWII are bombings and horrific fighting battles. Many individuals did not see first-hand the experience of WWII and can only go by what they have seen and heard from the media, which made “the result a cleaned up, cosmetically enhanced version of reality” according to Adams. Adams attempts to set straight the myths pertaining to the misconception of the “glamorous” battle conditions, and a perfect home front in order to demonstrate that World WII falls short of being remembered as the “Great War.”…

    • 797 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Wars

    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Family often has a great influence on the decisions of our lives. Parents often are the greatest external influences that we consider. Similarly in The Wars, Timothy Findley’s main character – Robert Ross’ parents influence his actions throughout the book. Mrs. Ross is portrayed as an adamant woman who is not very expressive of her love towards her children (especially Robert) because of societal norms but a gradual change is seen as the book progresses; On the other hand, Mr. Ross has always been an affectionate man towards his children and remains a constant character throughout the book.…

    • 640 Words
    • 3 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
  • Satisfactory Essays

    If it isn't obvious already, I think bombing Japan was what had to be done. Even though it potentially killed innocent people, it saved just as many lives in the US, if not more! Many Japanese soldiers lives were saved, mainly because of the scheduled invasion. The experience of Iwo Jima and Okinawa proved their willingness to fight to the last man. The war ended much quicker. An invasion of the Japanese home islands was scheduled to begin no earlier than 1946 and would've lasted at least the better part of a year. At the end of the day it was drop the bomb and end the war, or be prepared to drag on a fight almost too great to fight.…

    • 333 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    World War 2 Dbq

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages

    During World War II, after the United States join the war, they led the Allies to the victory. Millions fight bravely but only thousands were killed. By comparison to the Axis, the United States spent the most money but in return for least sacrifice. So, the victory cannot be separated from American citizens’ money and their help to their country.…

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    World War II (WW2) was a military conflict that began in 1939. It came to be the worst war in human history based of the loss of lives and material destroyed. Though it began as a European conflict between Germans and the French coalition, it spread to include other nations of the world like the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the United States of America (US). Boundaries and lines between combatants and non-combatants blurred with wars being waged on entire enemy territories and their populates’. Nations fought against each other with Germany, under the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler, being on the forefront. Germany’s aggression continued to rise but the US was impaired against acting against any aggression by the passing of a neutrality law. This law prevented them from offering assistance to any country involved in foreign conflict.…

    • 1732 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Both of the countries needed desperately to have the other one surrender. The war had been going on for a long time and it wasn't going anywhere something drastic had to be done. It was better that it be done to Japan because they had already hit us hard. If we had waited for them to drastically injure us then that would've cause for us to surrender and for them to win the war. Then a lot of people would've died from that plus even more while we would've been waiting for them to attack. Sometimes unfortunate things happen from war. They may be sad but they will happen and it's not the wrong decision made by us the war was avoided in the first place so bad things were going to…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    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.…

    • 1126 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since the United States refused to provide supplies for Japan in order to continue their war with China, they attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor. After the surprise attack by Japan, the American mindset changed completely, many people were angry and afraid of what would happen next. The entire country found itself in wartime mode, even though, much of America’s government was opposed to entering the war. This attack caused the United States involvement in World War II. What led up to the Attack on Pearl Harbor, brief background of what happened on December 7, 1941, how it caused the United States involvement in World War II, the reaction of the people and its effect on the country. Some people may argue that the attack did…

    • 1806 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Wars

    • 2116 Words
    • 9 Pages

    “Prior to the writing of The Wars, it was unheard of for any writer who had not experienced it first hand to write about "The War to End All Wars". However, Findley, with his direct and shocking style, was able to surpass this barrier and create one of the most acclaimed novels about World War I.” (Acadia)…

    • 2116 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Good Soldier

    • 1457 Words
    • 6 Pages

    This is a short overview on The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford. It is a modernistic novel so it has numerous perspectives and this is just one of them.…

    • 1457 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays