Introduction
Any war is a tragedy generated either by insoluble ideological differences, by an irremediable conflict of interests, or by the inability to prevent the villains before they have time to impose their will on others. The First World War is one of the most tragic wars. None of its main participants wanted it, but it sowed the seeds of conflicts that have not stopped until now. The role and place of the United States in the modern world are largely due to the same policy that the United States pursued during the Second World War. The outbreak of the war contributed to a change in public sentiment in the United States, which provided an opportunity to prepare the country for a world leader.
Main body
The propaganda that was carried out in the press and on the radio fell on fertile ground: the Americans watched with increasing anxiety the struggle of the English people against Germany. They were ready to contribute in every way to this struggle. In addition, Western Europe and Japan became serious competitors in the economy. To preserve the role of a world leader, the United States, on the one hand, showed flexibility, realism, and a tendency to compromise (Curbelo 115). The further complication of the international situation in the autumn of 1941 had a decisive impact on the nature of American neutrality. It was reduced only to the formal non-participation of the United States in the war (Hosoi 300). In this regard, there were only disagreements in the highest circles of the United States on the question of the time of the United States’ entry into the war. There was no doubt that the country would be among the warring states.
The President of the United States from 1945-1953 was Harry Truman. In domestic policy, the administration of the President of the Democratic Party focused on the continuation and development of Roosevelt’s “new deal.” In 1946, the Employment Law was adopted, which significantly reduced unemployment. The minimum hourly wage and pensions have increased, and funds have been allocated to construct housing for low-income families. However, it was not possible to fully deploy the planned programs due to the opposition of the US Congress.
If one imagines that the United States is not an independent state but some conglomeration of small states based on ethnocultural tradition, there would be a small Ireland or a small Italy. Then some confederation could arise, not the United States, but a slightly different plan. It would be very difficult to find a name for it, but it would be a repetition of Europe, only with a different variety. This collection of small states would become a counterweight to Europe and its competitor. By the way, if the United States had not become independent, there would have been a large Indian state. It would be very interesting because only by uniting was it possible to end the Indians. In any case, it would be a kind of Australian option. It is unlikely that there would be slavery because it would be very expensive and difficult to import enslaved people from Africa. From this point of view, even racially, the territory occupied by the United States would look somewhat different. Alaska would remain part of Russia because no one would sell it.
Conclusion
By way of conclusion, from the very beginning, the United States pursued its own goals: both by assisting the allies and then by directly participating in the war. The United States wanted to play a leading role on the world stage and realized that only through its participation in the war, only after weakening its rivals’ economic power, would it be able to realize its hegemonic plans.
Works Cited
Curbelo, Silvia Álvarez. “6. The Color of War Puerto Rican Soldiers and Discrimination during World War II.” Beyond the Latino World War II Hero. University of Texas Press, 2021. 110-124.
Hosoi, Yuko. “Japan-EU Relations After World War II and Strategic Partnership.” Asia Europe Journal, 2019. 295-307.