Interwar and World War II United States
This page about the history of the US during WWI and WWII. For the main article of this character, see
United States of America.
From 1917 to 1945, the United States experienced World War I, the Interwar Period, the Great Depression, and World War II. This would be the time period in which the United States would rise above all the previous powers, eventually becoming one of the two world superpowers at the end of 1945.
In both of the World Wars, United States’ participation radically advanced the progress of his allies. The US fought side by side by the 
Entente Powers and 
Allied Powers, he absolutely destroyed the 
German Empire, and played an very important role in defeating the 
Nazis and the 
Japanese.
History
World War I
Is Neutrality Really Worth It?
At the outbreak of the war in 1914, the United States initially pursued a policy of neutrality, aiming to avoid entanglement in the conflict engulfing 
Europe. However, as the war progressed and tensions escalated, maintaining neutrality became increasingly challenging. Plus, unrestricted submarine warfare conducted by Germany, which led to the sinking of civilian ships including the Lusitania in 1915, resulted in American casualties and escalating anti-German sentiment.
Towards the end of WWI, the German Empire deployed 
Lenin to 
Russia and kicked him out of the battlefield. This made German Empire very confident, but he realizes that there was another rising power in the west that needs to be taken care of. Germany sent a telegram, called the "Zimmermann Telegram" to 
Mexico, asking him to for a military alliance against the United States.
This was America's last straw.
Into the Battlefields
The formal entry of the United States into the war came on April 6, 1917, after President 
Wilson's request to Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. Wilson framed the conflict as a crusade to make the world "safe for 
democracy," appealing to both idealistic and pragmatic sentiments. The 
U.S. military, initially small and underprepared, underwent rapid expansion and mobilization. The Selective Service Act of 1917 authorized the draft of millions of American men, significantly bolstering the ranks of the 
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) under General John J. Pershing.
The AEF played a crucial role in the latter stages of the war, particularly in 1918, providing fresh troops and much-needed support to the exhausted Allied forces on the Western Front. American forces participated in several key offensives, including the Battle of 
Cantigny (the first major American battle and offensive), the Battle of 
Belleau Wood, and the 
Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which was one of the final and most significant operations leading to the armistice on November 11, 1918. The presence of American troops helped to shift the balance of power, boosting Allied morale and contributing to the ultimate defeat of the 
Central Powers.
On the home front, the war effort prompted significant economic and social changes. The U.S. government mobilized industry through the War Industries Board, ensuring efficient production and supply of war materials. The war also spurred advancements in technology and manufacturing, while propaganda campaigns encouraged public support and participation in the war effort. Furthermore, the conflict had lasting impacts on American society, including the acceleration of the Great Migration, as 
African Americans moved northward for war-related jobs.
End of the Great War
In the aftermath of the war, President Wilson played a key role in the 
Paris Peace Conference and the drafting of the Treaty of Versailles, advocating for his Fourteen Points and the establishment of the 
League of Nations. Despite Wilson's vision for a lasting peace and a new international order, the U.S. Senate ultimately rejected the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, reflecting a return to 
isolationist tendencies. Nevertheless, America's involvement in World War I marked his emergence as a significant global power and set the stage for his future international engagements.
Women's Suffrage
During WWI, 
Women's rights advanced, highlighted by their critical contributions to the workforce. After a long period of agitation, U.S. women were able in 1920 to obtain the necessary votes from a majority of men to obtain the right to vote in all state and federal elections. Women participated in the 1920 presidential and congressional elections. The 19th Amendment was passed, officially granting women's right to vote.
Interwar Period
The interwar period can be divided into subperiods, and is usually not considered a period on itself at all in US history, unlike in other countries such as 
France.
Roaring Twenties
Between World War I and World War II, the United States experienced significant social, economic, and political changes. The 1920s, often referred to as the "Roaring Twenties," was a decade of economic prosperity, technological advancements, and cultural flourishing, marked by the widespread adoption of automobiles, radios, and jazz music. Agriculture went through a bubble in soaring land prices that collapsed in 1921, and that sector remained depressed. Coal mining was shrinking as oil became the main energy source. Otherwise most sectors prospered. Construction flourished as office buildings, factories, paved roads, and new housing was evident everywhere. Automobile production soared, suburban housing expanded and the nation's homes, towns and cities were electrified, along with some farms. Prices were stable, and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew steadily until 1929, when the financial speculation bubble burst as Wall Street crashed.
A few local domestic-
terrorist attacks from radicals leftists, like the 1919 United States anarchist bombings and the 1920 Wall Street Bombing sparked the first Red Scare. Culture wars between fundamentalist Christians and modernists became more intense.
Great Depression
The period of growth known as the Roaring Twenties ended abruptly with the Stock Market Crash of 1929, which ushered in the Depressing Thirties Great Depression, a time of severe economic hardship, high unemployment, and widespread poverty throughout the 1930s. The US tried to recover and help the victims, and President 
Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented the New Deal, a series of programs and reforms aimed at economic recovery, financial reform, and relief for the unemployed and poor. Politically, the era saw the rise of isolationist sentiments.
The nadir of the Great Depression was 1933, and recovery was rapid until the recession of 1938 proved a setback. There were no major new industries in the 1930s that were big enough to drive growth the way autos, electricity and construction had been so powerful in the 1920s.
World War II
| “ | No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it. There can be no appeasement with ruthlessness. There can be no reasoning with an incendiary bomb. We know now that a nation can have peace with the Nazis only at the price of total surrender.
|
” | |
The United States' involvement in World War II was pivotal in determining the outcome of the conflict and reshaping global politics. Initially adhering to a policy of neutrality, the U.S. sought to avoid entanglement in the growing hostilities in Europe and Asia throughout the 1930s, just like they did in WWI. This stance was solidified through a series of Neutrality Acts aimed at preventing the kind of entanglements that had drawn the nation into World War I. However, as 
Axis Powers expanded aggressively, President Franklin D. Roosevelt began to prepare the country for the possibility of war, emphasizing the need to support the Allies through measures like the Lend-Lease Act of 1941, which provided critical aid to nations like 
Britain and the 
Soviet Union. This kept Britain and USSR fed and fueled throughout the war.
On 16 June 1941, after negotiation with 
Churchill, Roosevelt ordered the United States occupation of 
Iceland to replace the British invasion forces.
The turning point for American involvement came on December 7, 1941, when Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, 
Hawaii. This devastating assault resulted in significant loss of life and damage to the 
Pacific Fleet, galvanizing American public opinion and prompting a swift response. On December 8, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan, and shortly thereafter, Germany and 
Italy declared war on the United States, bringing America fully into World War II on both the Pacific and European fronts. The US also started rapidly producing military equipment, war ships, planes, tanks and much more. USA shipped 2,000 locomotives, 11,000 railcars, 400,000 trucks, 14,000 aircraft, and $210 billion in total supply to the USSR (factoring inflation), and effectively rebuilt the Soviet supply network for the war effort.
In the European Theater, American forces initially focused on the North African Campaign, successfully pushing Axis forces out of the region by 1943. The subsequent invasion of Italy marked a crucial step in weakening Axis positions in Europe. One of the most significant contributions came on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, when Allied forces, including a substantial number of American troops, launched the largest amphibious invasion in history on the beaches of 
Normandy, 
France. This operation was a turning point that led to the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. American cloth, steel and meat kept the 
Red Army clothed, equipped and fed while they marched into 
Berlin and raped all their women. American forces continued to advance through France and into Germany, playing a key role in the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany in May 1945.
The US was also working on atomic weapons in the Manhattan Project, hoping to make them before the Germans figures out how. USA also funded the 
Chinese defense effort while soloing the 
Imperial Japanese Navy.
In the Pacific Theater, the U.S. adopted an island-hopping strategy to gradually reclaim territory from Japanese control. Key battles included the Battle of 
Midway in 1942, which turned the tide in favor of the Allies, and the grueling campaigns at Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and 
Okinawa. Each victory brought American forces closer to Japan. Japan sees surrendering as dishonorable and was determined to fight until their last breath, so not wanting the war to drag on and potentially threaten the American mainland, the decision to use atomic weapons was made. The bombs “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” were dropped on the cities of 
Hiroshima and 
Nagasaki in August 1945. These bombings, coupled with the Soviet Union’s declaration of war on Japan, led to Japan's unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, effectively ending World War II.
Relationships
Friends
United Kingdom - Great ally, the strongest western European. Respects to you for you survived 
Nazi's rampage.
Soviet Union - Though we have different ideologies, we stand united against 
Fascism at least for now…Also I gave you lots of equipment.
Republic of China - Fought bravely against the 
Japanese monsters for eight years straight. I will fund you.
Enemies
- German Third Reich - STOP INVADING MY FRIENDS! STOP KILLING
JEWS! REMOVE 
HITLER! - Empire of Japan - REMOVE KAMIKAZE!!! GET NUKED!!!!
German Empire - Stop sinking my civilian ships! I WILL BEAT YOU UP!
How to Draw
There is no specific shade of colors needed to draw the flag of USA. so you can draw in any shade of red, white and blue you want! But, preferable shades are listed below.
- Draw a ball.
- Draw 7 red stripes separated by 6 white stripes.
- Draw a small blue rectangle covering the left of 4 red stripes.
- Draw 48 stars (or dots if you are lazy) inside the blue rectangle.
- Draw a pair of sunglasses on the ball and you are done!
| Color Name | HEX | |
|---|---|---|
| Independence (American Blue) | #002664 | |
| Upsdell Red (American Red) | #BB133E | |
| #FFFFFF | ||
Gallery
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Manhattan Project
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World War I
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World War I
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Allies gang
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To be modified and used for something else…
