World Wars in the 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.
“
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.
— Franklin D. Roosevelt
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, which 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 there was another rising power in the west. German Empire 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.
Home Front
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, and the advancement of women's rights, highlighted by their critical contributions to the workforce and the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment granting women's right to vote.
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 its emergence as a significant global power and set the stage for its future international engagements.
Interwar Period
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. However, this period of growth ended abruptly with the Stock Market Crash of 1929, which ushered in the Great Depression, a time of severe economic hardship, high unemployment, and widespread poverty throughout the 1930s. In response, 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.
World War II
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. 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.
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.
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 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 Nazi Germany figures out how.
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.
Relations
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.
- Republic of China - Fought bravely against the Japs for eight years straight.
Enemies
- German Third Reich - STOP INVADING MY FRIENDS! STOP KILLING JEWS! REMOVE HITLER!
- Empire of Japan - REMOVE KAMIKAZE!!! GET NUKED!!!!
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) | #3C3B6E | |
Upsdell Red (American Red) | #B22234 | |
#FFFFFF |
Gallery
-
Manhattan Project
-
World War I
-
World War I
-
Allies gang