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World War II caused the United States to fundamentally change in many ways. The national power of our country emerged a great deal. The economic health of our country also emerged. Lastly, our home front became more conservative. These three things are what made up our country after the war. The people of the United States looked at these things for support and help. The national power of our country went from being of equal power to other nations to being high above everyone else.
After joining the United Nations in October 1945, the United States began to aid other countries that seemed to be under the threat of another invasion. These types of acts made the United States seem like the superior nation to all the other nations. When the United States placed executive orders on different people, our nation also became this power hungry government. When President Roosevelt issued the Executive Order 9066, Japanese-Americans were sent to internment camps where there was poor sanitation and harsh conditions.
They lost millions of dollars in potential income, property, and land. Although after the case of Korematsu vs. the United States, the Supreme Court justified that they couldn’t second-guess any military decisions. The federal government than decided to formally apologize for the way they treated the Japanese-Americans and paid each surviving family $20,000. Although this seems nice, that wasn’t nearly enough for the Japanese-Americans to get back to where they started. During the war the United States was finally getting out of the depression.
The war opened doors for many different groups in America. In 1944, Congress passed the GI Bill, or the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act. This provided funding for college education and low interest home and small business loans to returning veterans from World War I. Then, other things like the Employment Act of 1946, was an attempt to keep the United States at full employment at all times. Workers at this time, just like after most wars, struggled to keep up with the inflation.
The standard of living was also higher than ever before. When Truman became president, he hoped to not only continue the New Deal programs, but also improve them by striving for the full employment and increased rights for the minorities. The home front for the United States wasn’t much different. People feared a fascist government. Because of the nuclear weapon used on Japan, the people feared that our country was constantly changing. People just couldn’t get away from the constant propaganda on the streets and radio.
The Office of War Information produced radio shows and news reels to keep Americans informed about what was going on overseas. Because the government was so keen on increasing war production, they would encourage the adherence of rationing, the saving of grease, and especially the purchasing of war bonds. World War II caused the United States to fundamentally change in many ways. The national power of our country became much more commanding that it has been throughout history. Through economic changes and the home front of our country, slowly the United States started gaining more control.