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10 Facts About America During The World War II

When you think of a superpower during World War II the United States rings all the bells. America had a lot to do with the direction the war took and while it did so, its economy, politics and culture all went through a lot of changes. Though the US at some point tried to stay alienated they ended up committing their resources and personnel to defeat the Axis forces. 

There was a lot of communal effort in America at the time, women played a key role in helping the country succeed but at the same time, there were long-lasting effects on American culture and the rest of the world. Let’s take a look at the role America played and how the country survived WWII.

1. The Pearl Harbour attack triggered the US to join WWII

WWII was all about gaining power and gaining influence, this is why on December 7th, 1941 the Japanese military attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where the United States naval station was located. The attack was unexpected and it is said that 2,400 Americans were killed and over 1,100 were injured. This particular attack led President D. Roosevelt to declare war on Japan and led the United States into WWII. Though the United States wanted to stay out of the war the Pearl Harbour attack made them realize that the Axis powers had to be destroyed. 

2. The American government took a number of actions to mobilise the nation’s resources

Defense by Fox (Sgt) from

To win the war against the Axis the American government had to implement a number of measures to be ready for the war. The War Production Board was created to ensure that essentials like food, petrol and rubber were evenly divided. Of course, you’d wonder how America managed to fund other countries and still stay afloat right? the government launched a propaganda campaign with posters and movies asking people to purchase war bonds, practise resource conservation and make other contributions. These initiatives helped them fight the war and support their allies. 

3. More than 16 million Americans served in the armed forces during the war

1944 Normandy by U.S. Coast Guard from

Like any war, brave soldiers are needed and since this was the only honourable thing for men to do at the time 16 million Americans, including soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines fought in the armed forces during WWII. There were some that enlisted voluntarily while others were drafted into service. Regardless of colour or background, all soldiers were forced to work together to be successful, together they fought around the world in a brave manner. 

A lot of sacrifices were made and as a result, the Axis countries were victorious in the war. However, the brutal truth is that almost 400,000 Americans lost their lives in the war, this reality is a reminder that though they won, a lot of women lost their husbands, sons, uncles and male authorities. 

4. The war had a significant impact on the U.S. economy

Because the US directly got in involved in WWII their economy was greatly affected due to the rise in government spending. However, there were many jobs created and in a way, the investment the government made got the country out of the Great Depression. Industries such as aviation, shipbuilding and electronics sparked technological innovation. In the end, the American economy led to a post-war boom and that influenced America’s history up till the present. 

5. American Women played a crucial role in the war effort

Women USGS by UAA/APU from

In a world where women were only seen as mothers their impact on WWII was phenomenal. Women were able to fill several male-only roles and managed to fill crucial positions in sectors that most people thought women couldn’t fill. Because men had to fight in the war, over 350,000 women joined the military as non-combatants to work as nurses, clerks and radio presenters. WWII started the conversation about how to redefine gender norms and gender equality, because of their key role during WWII America was able to be a success. 

6. The war also had a profound impact on the lives of Japanese American

Attack on Pearl Harbour Japanese Plane View Colourized by HotPot.ai. Photo by Vanky1123 on Wikimedia

Imagine being a Japanese American during WWII. Japanese Americans did not have an easy time in America, after the Pearl Harbour incident there was growing mistrust for Japanese Americans and the American government helped with this. What most people don’t know is that at the time two-thirds of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated in camps across the western United States were forcibly transferred. The Japanese families that had built their happy lives in America were forced to leave their homes, places of business and communities. 

7. The United States played a key role in the defeat of Nazi Germany

If it wasn’t for the United States, winning against the Nazis was going to be a lot more challenging than it actually was. America didn’t shy away from battles and they were involved in battles such as the Battle of the Bulge which at the time was the biggest and most brutal battle that the U.S. army fought in WWII.

In addition to fighting against Nazi control the government provides weapons, gear and supplies to the Allied war effort. While countries at the time suffered industrial shortages, America’s industrial production helped generate quantities of everything from food and ammunition to tanks and aircraft.

8. The war also marked a turning point in U.S. foreign policy

If there was a time the United States was shining it had to be during WWII because they immediately became a powerhouse and did not refuse to accept the new role as the world’s preeminent force. America played a very important role in the formation of the United Nations and other international organisations that were meant to promote peace as well as security. Because of the role America played at the time they put away the need to isolate and instead started to value interaction and collaboration with other countries. 

9. A lot of Americans were in disagreement about whether the Hiroshima incident was necessary

Nagasaki bomb by Charles Levy from

The use of atomic bombs on Japan in 1945 is one of the most debated topics simply because of the obvious damage the bombing caused. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have often been questioned from a morality standpoint. There were Americans that felt that the invasion of the Japanese home islands was necessary if the war was to reach any conclusion. Other argued that Japan was also quite vicious and that the use of atomic weapons was unnecessary. Though, the truth is, the effects of the bombings are still being felt with some people wondering if, in fact, it was necessary.

10. The United States became the world’s leading military and economic power after World War Two

Because of the role America played during World War II, it was no surprise that the country rose to become the world’s greatest military and economic power. What would have happened if America continued in isolation? chances are they would not have become the world’s leading economic force.

The innovation that took place at the time helped America maintain its status as the world’s leading superpower. In an attempt to help Europe recover, America took the initiative to help rehabilitate the war-torn countries and helped secure ties with important allies. If wasn’t for America, reconstructing Europe would have taken much longer.

By the end of WWII, the United States had secured a place in the world. The war showed that the USA was not the country to bully, they showed this when they joined the war after the Pearl Harbour attack and it proved that if provoked the country was not going to back down from war. Millions of Americans worked to help the military, women stepped out of their homes and gave assistance that glued the country and as usual, there were lessons learned from the war that showed the importance of teamwork, sacrifice and courage in the face of adversity.