During the 1930s, the United States suffered through the Great Depression. As America grappled with the economic chaos, the international community faced financial disaster as well. Many nations began to question the value and efficacy of representative government and turned to centralized or often dictatorial regimes. These totalitarian governments adopted military options as a solution to their economic problems. The nations of Germany and Italy formed an alliance known as the Rome/Berlin Axis. Later, Japan joined as well. Preoccupied with their economic concerns, Americans pursued a policy of isolationism from the international community.
America formally entered World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. Faced with a war on two fronts, the Pacific and European Theaters, the United States allocated 90% of its resources to defeating Germany and Italy, which posed the greater threat to our Allies, Great Britain and Russia. The remainder of our military and supplies sought to contain the Japanese in the Pacific Theater.
For your initial post, identify and examine in detail one of the international developments, which preceded the United States involvement in World War II. Should the US have paid more attention to foreign affairs? Given our focus on the Great Depression, is it surprising that we pursued isolationism? Is there anything that America could have done to alter the events, which led to the most disastrous conflict of the Twentieth Century? You may also examine one of the significant battles of World War II. Assess its impact on the course of this conflict. What role did our Allies play in these engagements? How do these battles fit into the overall strategy designed to defeat the Axis powers? What technological developments affected the outcome of the war?
In responding to your peers’ posts, select a post that identified an international development or significant battle other than the one you examined. What were the effects? How do these events impact the Rome/Berlin/Tokyo Axis?
Why did the US deploy atomic bombs on Japan and what was the reason for it?
Describe the strategy of 2nd front and why was Stalin so focused on it?
How did this program aid US Allies?
