World War II: Impact on American Society

Beyond the loss of millions of people, the war caused a significant social transformation in the reconstruction period that would not have been implemented sooner had the war not taken place. Being an adult during and after WWII, one would expect to experience significant economic and social challenges. The role of the worker was highly relevant for supporting the manufacturing industry in the decreased availability of men to work, which led to many women taking their positions (Corbett et al.). The labor force transformed significantly, with tens of millions of workers taking high productivity jobs in industrial centers. Moreover, to support the population’s morale, the music and cinematography industries both provided an escape from the war’s horrors while also instilling patriotic ideas into the community (Corbett et al.). Besides, essential life resources such as meat, gasoline, and clothing were no longer available in unlimited access but rather rationed, and the production of durable products such as household appliances was banned. Finally, the prices and wages were under great control, which led to many Americans saving high portions of their incomes that they would spend during the period of renewed growth.

World War II had a tremendous impact on people, and its end promoted the middle and working-class Americans to live a better life than they lived before the war. The African-American population that served in the armed forces did not wish to return to the way things were before the war and wanted to have the same opportunities granted to other Americans. The proposition of Truman to carry out a social legislation program, “Fair Deal,” marked the point of extending civil rights to all US citizens (Corbett et al.). Finally, while the US had a history of avoiding alliances, in the post-WWII period, it began collaborating with powerful international players.

Work Cited

Corbett, Scott, et al. “U.S. History.” Openstax, 2020.