World war two
History records world war two as one of the deadliest battles ever fought in throughout human existence. An estimate of over 50 million deaths directly was from the war and another over 20 million from related war diseases and famine. However, at the center of World War 2 was the attack on Pearl’s harbor on December 7, 1941 (Brody 21). This attack castigated the United States’ entry into the war two at a time when America considered the conflict to be a European affair. This paper attempts to analyze the cause of the attack and its consequence to the war and the world.
To begin with, the attack on Pearl’s harbor was reprimanded by the strict United States foreign policy that restricted Japan’s interest in the world. For the longest time, Japan had been interested in amassing natural resources like oil and minerals, which was critical for its expansion in Asia and Pacific areas. Also, the United States had issued firm restrictions on Japan’s business, a move that the Japanese did not welcome. The epicenter of this twist and turns was the movement of the United States’ Pacific fleet from California to Pearl Harbor (Brody 17). This movement ensured that Japan would not annex into Asia and Pacific areas, thus they were drained from getting the vital natural resources for their economic growth, military straitening, and expansion, among other things. In such a devastating state, Japan had no option but to attack the Pearl harbor as a retaliation. This strike would then prompt the United States to suspends its policy of isolationism and enter into world war two.
On the other hand, the United States’ entry into world war 2 provided a significant boost to the Allies and the collapse of fascism in Europe. The US contributed both economic and military support to the Soviet Union, Britain, among other countries that were fighting against the Axis powers (Reiter & Schuessler 179). For instance, in 1944, the US military forces were almost half of the Allied countries by giving about 12 million personnel in both Army, Navy, and Airforce. The strong economic and military support ensured sustenance throughout the long period of war that resulted in the defeat of the fascist countries like Nazi Germany, Italy, Japan, and their collaborators.
Besides, following its successful and immense contribution to the defeat of totalitarianism in Europe, the United States came out as one of the strong superpowers along with the Soviet Union. As a result, the United States emerged as an international influence on economic, political, military, and technological matters. Most importantly, the United States received the global role of ensuring a long-lasting peace and stability of nations all over the world. According to Reiter and Schuessler (180), to achieve a long-term global unity, President Roosevelt of the United States and the British Prime minister Winston Churchill facilitated the creation of the United Nations. This international body would provide cooperation among countries even during wartime. Further, the creation of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund would guarantee economic support to countries and prevent economic nationalism that existed before the great war.
Conclusively, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was responsible for the US involvement in the second world war. With her strong engagement, the defeat of totalitarian leaders and the rebirth of a new world order in which the US is the superpower came. Thus, the US serves an integral role in global activities.