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Hayden Pehrson
Professor Ken Hansen
History 1700-001
23 April 2015
The Greatest Generation: World War II
The generation during World War II is considered one of the greatest generations of all
time. This generation at this time had to deal with the poor economy from the Great Depression,
as well as fighting against the the Germans in World War II. At this time, the Germans were
considered one of the most powerful countries in the world. The Germans leader at this time was
Adolf Hitler, and his plan was world domination. He had taken over many European countries,
and he was continuing to expand his power all through Europe and the world. The United States
at this time had to turn to its young to fight in enemy territory, in order to keep their homeland
safe and secure. During this era there were millions of citizens who were deprived from their
homes and jobs. Most of the men were sent over seas to fight for their country, while the women
would work, and take care of the children. At this time, the nation was working on ways to win
the war, fix the economy, solve the civil rights issue, and the rise of womens rights. This
generation had so many controversial issues that they had to face in order for their nation to to
succeed.
While the United States were facing their own problems as a nation, they also had to face
the powerful German army across the sea. The United States wasnt originally involved in World
War II, but once the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, war was then declared on Japan, and then
the Germans declared war on the United States. Adolf Hitler and the Germans at this time were
one of the most powerful countries in the world, and had excellent military equipment. There

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auto mechanics were very advanced for this time, and when it came to battle they had the upper
hand of the battle. With Germanys plan of world domination, they had the help from their axis
countries which were Italy, Japan, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. These countries together
made their plan of world domination a lot harder to end, but the United States had help from
their allied countries as well which were Britain, France, USSR, Australia, Belgium, Brazil,
Canada, China, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa,
and Yugoslavia. The United States had to turn to the young to fight against the axis countries, the
military needed as many troops as they could to fight against one of the most powerful countries
in the world. The military was enlisting as many young adults as they could to fight for their
country, while the women would work and take care of the children. Their only hope during the
war is to return home alive to their wife and kids.
These young men had absolutely no military experience and are about to go across the
sea to fight against Germanys powerful military. In order for these men to maintain a positive
attitude throughout the war, they need to be as optimistic as they can. During battle they will see
things that no one should ever have to see, and the war could effect their attitude. There are
young soldiers who will go completely insane while theyre in battle. Some of these young men
could possibly have a panic attack while theyre in the process of battle. The hardest part about
these young men is the thought of possibly never seeing their family ever again. These young
men should be focusing on winning the war, and making sure that their nation will remain safe
from any of the axis countries. The amount of thoughts that are going through these soldiers
heads could lose their focus on fighting the battle. If the United States were to lose to the axis
countries, Adolf Hitler and Germany would take over the nation, and possibly the entire world.

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The United States is already going through a poor economic time period, their only hope of
building their nation back to its formal glory is to win World War II.
The Great Depression also affected the nation during World War II as well because most
citizens were losing their homes and jobs. There was about one fourth of the nation that were
jobless during this time period. The women began working and taking care of the children while
the men were defending the country across the sea. Farmers during this time period were
gathering less crops, and the entire nation struggled getting the food that they needed. The
poverty at this time was at an all time low, and so was the amount of supplies that we had in
World War II. With a poor economy at this time it was difficult for the military to get the money
to pay for the costs it took to manufacture vehicles, and air support that they needed to in order to
compete with the Germans military. The United States manufacturers werent as good as the
Germans, so the Germans already had an advantage, but without having any type of air support
the United States would be in trouble. What made it so hard for the United States was the fact
that every time the manufacturers would develop a new vehicle, or air support they would
continue in debt as a nation. So if the military wanted to increase their strength, they would have
to manufacture as many military equipment as possible. By doing this, it then increases the
nations debt with an extreme amount of money. With the United States now in a extremely large
debt, the scare was that if the nation fails to defeat the axis countries, then not only would
Germany possibly take over, but then the debt increases even more. The Great Depression with
World War II together is possibly the most difficult issue that any generation would have to face.
Although World War II and the Great Depression were the nations main issues during this
time period, the men back home were thinking of ways to rebuild the economy. A good amount
of people in the nation were jobless, and homeless, but because of the war there were new jobs

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that opened up. While most of the men were fighting against the axis countries across the sea,
they needed men who could manufacture military equipment, and they needed the manufacturers
to work at a fast rate. The production of military equipment became a very important factor
during World War II, as well as the increase of citizens with jobs, and the United States economy
was starting to rebuild itself again. During the war, the nation was outnumbering the production
of military equipment more than any other country. More than half of the industrial production in
the world was taken place in the United States after World War II. The main auto mobile
companies in the United States, joined with the military at this time to assist in manufacturing
auto mobiles for the war, as well as air support, and other military equipment that they needed to
benefit the soldiers during the war. These auto mobile companies included Chrysler, Ford, and
General Motors. The amount of employees that these auto mobile companies had before the war
exploded in the number of employees they had after the war. These auto mobile companies were
creating assembly lines with the many employees that were hired, and were putting together the
military equipment at very high rates. Every year during the war the number of machinery the
nation was manufacturing would double in numbers. Both men and women were offered jobs to
these companies for support to the nations military. The industrial production of military
equipment was a huge factor to the nation during World War II.
During World War II, the nation was sending out supplies to the military, as well as
providing assistance to the allied countries. If the allies needed help, the United States was there
to back them up as much as we could, but because the military didnt want any other countries to
figure out how our machinery was made. Even though the allied countries were on the United
States side, the worry of them discovering the militarys technology could possibly back fire. The
neutrality act during World War II, deprived other countries from any trade that involved military

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machinery because of the possible chance that the other countries will learn how the machinery
is manufactured. This act also involved any traveling Americans who were aboard of any of the
other countries ships. The neutrality act was invoked by President Franklin D. Roosevelt after
Italy invaded Ethiopia. With the neutrality act, the pressure on the United States was a lot more
heavy because the nation had to fight for themselves, as well as the allied countries.
When the United States was bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, it had a huge
impact on the militarys warships. Pearl Harbor at the time was one of the biggest naval bases in
the nation. After the Great Depression, the United States economy was already in bad shape, but
once the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor the cost of damages became even worse. The damages
at Pearl Harbor could have been worse, but with the damages the Japanese caused, the nation
continued to increase in debt, and are now going to enter their second World War. It was because
of the supplies the United States were sending to China during their conflict, and the cut off of
Japans supplies is the reason why the Japanese bombed the United States. It was after the
bombing that the United States declared war on Japan, in which they entered the war against
Germany as well. At this time period in American history when the United States was already in
the process of taking care of their own problems, and the war was going to make the economy
even worse.

During World War II there were many assignments that these men could do, and the
United States military needed as many soldiers as possible. Whether it was to be on the front line
of the battle, tank driver, air support, and even the red cross. The nations military needed as
many casualties as they could in order to win the war. Even if these men had no idea what theyre
were doing, they would be assigned to learn specific skills for either combat, medic, or even an

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engineer. These men would have to learn these skills as quickly as they could in order to benefit
the nations military. Its not easy for these young men to learn something that they have never
done before, and it could be very complex, but in order to assist their nation they will need to
learn these skills as quickly as possible. There isnt anything else they could have done that
would make this any easier. They were put into a situation whether they learn the skill and
impact the nations military, or they could have a low chance of surviving. The nations men
werent always white men, both African-Americans and Latinos were also involved. With the
United States at war with the powerful Germans, the nation needs as many men as they can get.
These ethnicities in World War II had the same responsibilities, and needed to learn these skills
as well. For the most part African-Americans and Latinos were used for labor, and they were
both separated from the white soldiers. The men during World War II had to learn specific skills
if the military was going to defeat the axis countries.
The young men in the United States already dont have the combat experience, but the
fact they had to travel across the sea and fight in enemy territories that theyre not familiar with.
These axis countries are fighting on their land that theyre familiar with when the United States
sends many young soldiers to unfamiliar territory, and no combat experience. The axis countries
definitely have the advantage over these young American soldiers that have no idea what theyre
doing. There is a great possibility that large amount of these men were slaughtered as soon as
they were sent to these unfamiliar territories. The amount of deaths from these young men are
way too high to be happening. These men are dying way too young, and for the next generations
there will be a higher women population than men, because these young men are dying in battle
and wont be able to pass down their offspring. It all comes down to the men if theyre going to

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win the war and continue to relive the American lifestyle. If it werent for the sacrifices of many
young men in the enemy territory, then the war could have had a different outcome.
During this time period the United States as a nation was falling apart, and when the
economy crashed it brought a lot of depression to the American people. The country was
becoming corrupt, and the American life wasnt what it was supposed to be. With the nation
entering the war, the hope for any positivity was even worse, and the citizens werent expecting
the American dream to be like this. At this time, the country was frightened from Adolf Hitler
and Germanys power lowered the hope for a strong American nation. The American people at
this time are dealing with issues that are difficult to deal with. Its not easy for a country to have a
positive turn around after dealing with situations like these. In order for the country to become
strong again, the nation has to remain positive, and work together to form a efficient society of
people. The American people have work together, in order for the nation to become strong
independent country.
The generation after the Great Depression, and during World War II is considered the best
generation because of the issues they had to overcome. If it werent for this generation, Adolf
Hitler could have possibly ruled the world during his lifetime, and the United States could have
ended up a corrupt country. The young men had to join combat with no experience, and needed
to learn certain skills in order for Americas military to defeat the Germans. With having a poor
economy, they figured out how to use the war as a way to rebuild the economy. They found a
way to increase productivity by using the assembly line for the military. This generation worked
together in a situation that isnt easy to overcome, but with the American people doing their part

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and taking responsibility the nation succeeded. If it werent for the men in this generation the
economy could have went corrupt, women wouldnt have received equality rights, there would
be no American dream, and Germany could have controlled the world.

Work Cited

CNN Library. World War II Fast Facts. Web. April. 2015.

Hickman, Kennedy. World War II 101: An Overview. Web. April. 2015.

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Knight, Judson. World War II Facts, Information, Pictures. Web. April. 2015.

Rosenberg, Jennifer. Pearl Harbor Facts. Web. April. 2015.

Tassava, Christopher J. The American Economy During World War II. Web. April. 2015.

Taylor, Steven J. Acts of Conscience World War II, Mental Institutions, and Religious Objectors.
Web. April. 2015.