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    America in World Wars I and II: A 59-Minute Perspective
    America in World Wars I and II: A 59-Minute Perspective
    America in World Wars I and II: A 59-Minute Perspective
    Ebook51 pages38 minutes

    America in World Wars I and II: A 59-Minute Perspective

    By Martina Sprague

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    About this ebook

    Never having participated in a conflict on the scale of World War I naturally taught America that it needed some adjustments to its military forces. When America entered the war, the Allies also minimized American achievements and viewed American troops as less prepared to meet the challenges of modern wars than the stalwart, disciplined, and well-trained French and British forces. In the interwar period, the United States realized that Japan was becoming a growing strategic problem. In case of war, the American war effort would have to be divided between Europe and Asia. What America might be best remembered for, however, are the strategic bombing campaigns which culminated in dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After World War II, America focused on a strategy of deterrence and containment of communism, with a commitment to defeat totalitarian regimes, which it believed was essential for the economic growth of the Free World.

    There are many prisms through which one can view American participation in World Wars I and II. Rather than providing definite answers, this brief study aims at rousing additional interest and provoking critical thinking about how these large-scale wars shaped military policy and the future of the United States Armed Forces, including our nation's decision to go to war. Discussions include the following topics:

    1. America Enters World War I

    2. American Strategy and Tactics in the Great War

    3. Military Preparations in the Interwar Years

    4. Doctrinal Differences between the Military Branches

    5. America Enters World War II

    6. The Strategic Bombings of Japan and Germany

    7. Allied Victory and the End of World War II

    8. How America's Warfare Policies Changed after World War II

    9. Topics for Further Study and Debate

    The book is suitable for history interested readers looking for thought provoking topics, but not having a lot of time; and for teachers preparing the class for critical thinking about historical events, and how they have come to affect current affairs. More books with focus on domestic and international military history will be forthcoming in this new series titled, A 59-Minute Perspective.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMartina Sprague
    Release dateApr 29, 2018
    ISBN9781386275176
    America in World Wars I and II: A 59-Minute Perspective
    Author

    Martina Sprague

    Martina Sprague grew up in the Stockholm area of Sweden. She has a Master of Arts degree in Military History from Norwich University in Vermont and has studied a variety of combat arts since 1987. As an independent scholar, she writes primarily on subjects pertaining to military and general history, politics, and instructional books on the martial arts. For more information, please visit her website: www.modernfighter.com.

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      Book preview

      America in World Wars I and II - Martina Sprague

      INTRODUCTION

      ––––––––

      World War I required a great deal of planning with respect to economic factors and the mobilization of large numbers of troops. Never having participated in a conflict on the scale of World War I naturally taught America that it needed some adjustments to its military forces. When America entered the war, the Allies minimized American achievements and viewed American troops as less prepared to meet the challenges of modern wars than the stalwart, disciplined, and well-trained French and British forces. However, France and Britain also realized that they would likely not win the war without the help of the United States.

      In the interwar period, when preparing for a new war on an international scale, the United States became convinced that it must avoid a repetition of the stalemate that trench warfare had brought to World War I. The United States also realized that Japan was becoming a growing strategic problem. In case of war, the American war effort would have to be divided between Europe and Asia.

      The economic situation also influenced America’s ability to prepare for a new war. In the early years of World War II, American planners believed that an enlargement of the army’s ground forces would be the key to victory. Although America tried to uphold its neutrality policy and avoid entanglements that might lead to war, the government acted according to circumstance in a way that it perceived was in its best interest, and joined the Allies after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. What America might be best remembered for, however, are the strategic bombing campaigns which culminated in dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

      After World War II, America focused on a strategy of deterrence and containment of communism, with a commitment to defeat totalitarian regimes, which it believed was essential for the economic growth of the Free World. The Cold War, however, could potentially become a long-term struggle. The hope was that by containing communism, the Soviet Union would eventually collapse and communism would die a natural death.

      There are many prisms through which one can view American participation in World Wars I and II. Rather than providing definite answers, this brief study aims at rousing additional interest and provoking critical thinking about how these large-scale wars shaped military policy and the future of the United States Armed Forces, including our nation’s decision to go to war. Since brevity is the goal, the reader is apt to find a number of considerations of merit left out. The section at the end, titled Topics for Further Study and Debate, is meant to be thought provoking in the hope that it will trigger additional analysis and discussion. It can also be used by teachers preparing the class for critical thinking about historical events, and how they have come to affect current affairs.

      There is obviously a great deal more that can be said about the subject. After finishing this brief study, those interested in exploring further can start by referring to the bibliography at the end. More books with focus on domestic and international military history will be forthcoming in this new series titled, A 59-Minute Perspective.

      AMERICA ENTERS WORLD WAR I

      ––––––––

      When America

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