Three Decades That Changed the World
Three Decades that Changed the World
This paper reflects on three major historical turning points that occurred between World War II and the 1970s. The points that will be discussed are World War II (WWII), the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War. The following will analyze the effects these turning points had on society during the time they took place as well as how they still continue to affect American life to this day.
World War II
In the 1930s, America was reeling from the Great Depression, the global economy was failing, and three power hungry dictators were attempting to take over the world. Germany was in shambles due to the previous world war and the Treaty of Versailles had all but bankrupted the country. Adolph Hitler was made chancellor and quickly put plans in place to get Germany out of the crisis it was in, but he was also a crazed dictator who had his own agenda.
Mussolini (left) and Hitler sent their armies to N...
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Adolf Hitler addressing the Reichstag with his spe...The United States was wary of joining another worldwide conflict after seeing all of the carnage in World War I and it was also still dealing with the effects of the Great Depression. Most Americans were focused on the economy and issues on the home front instead of what was going on in Europe and points to the East. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), while wanting to avoid another war, saw an opportunity to help Britain and France and boost the American economy at the same time. Like Germany, Britain as well as most of Europe, was still recovering from World War I. Most of the industrial centers were destroyed and this proved to be an economic advantage for the United States as all of the fighting during the war took place in Europe. Between...