Compare And Contrast Essay On Ww2 Vs Cold War
Abbey Martin
Dr. Katherine Hubler
HST 106H
May 28, 2015
WWII vs. the Cold War WWII and the Cold War were both very influential wars politically, socially, and economically worldwide. However, WWII had a larger and more profound global impact on society between 1937 and 1962 in comparison to the Cold War because it greatly impacted civilians across the globe, was fought worldwide, and led to drastic social and economic changes in the United States and South America. Very early on in WWII it became clear that the involvement of civilians was much greater than it had ever been in previous wars. During this time countries realized that booming economies win wars instead of actual man-to-man combat. This concept led to more military-related spending. As a result of this, workers became just as crucial to the war effort as the soldiers themselves. Often countries would plan attacks on industrial areas …show more content…
miles away from the front lines because the impact of these attacks would be felt more strongly. These actions blurred the boundaries between combat zone and civilian life leading to more civilian deaths and attacks on civilians. By the end of the war in 1945, 65-100 million were dead worldwide with the majority being civilians. Another reason for civilian involvement and civilian deaths had to due with racism and imperialist desires. During WWII, the Holocaust caused over 6 million Jewish deaths. When addressing the SS in Germany in 1943, Heinrich Himmler says of the killing the Jews, “Each of us shuddered, and yet each one knew he would do it again if it were ordered and it were necessary” (Himmler pg.43 CP). To many of those involved in the Nazi party, the destruction of the Jewish race was an obligation to their country that they must carry out. The Holocaust profoundly re-shaped European society as so many Jewish lives were lost. Similarly, during this era the Japanese planned to gain land and resources from China. To do this, they invaded Nanking in 1937 killing and raping many people. Dr. Robert Wilson, who was serving there at the time writes, “The slaughter of civilians is appalling. I could go on for pages telling of cases of rape and brutality almost beyond belief… I wonder when it will stop and we will be able to catch up with ourselves again” (Wilson pg. 36 CP). This account shows how the race-related and imperialistic goals of this war caused many civilian deaths created serious change in civilian life and culture. WWII was a global war. It was fought worldwide and involved people groups and countries from all over making for a very expansive influence. WWII was fought in Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific. Because the war was so widespread soldiers of various nationalities were recruited including French colonial soldiers, Indian men fighting on behalf of the British, and other colonial forces fighting for their mother country. This impacted economies in the colonies, as there was heavy taxation and forced labor as well as caused forced dislocations across much of the globe. The impact of this war being such a global one continued as nuclear warfare was introduced and attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki left thousands for dead demonstrating the extremely large impact that it had. WWII also caused drastic social and economic changes in both the United States and South America. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941, racism and fear of the Japanese abounded in the United States causing an executive order to be made for the Japanese, particularly those on the West Coast, to be re-located to Japanese internment camps. This affected over 100,000 American citizens and residents creating social change and hardship. In addition, military spending as a result of the United States boosted the economy and engaged South America as well. At the time, Latin America was rich with natural resources necessary in the production of weapons and other war-related products (Rock). The United States as well as various other countries decided to enlist South America, but because they were exporting far more than they were importing it led to a severe depression as a direct result of WWII impacting much of South and Central America (Rock). So, as the economy of United States was gaining momentum, that of South America was severely lagging behind as they continued to use their resources to support the war effort. This shows how far reaching the impact of WWII was economically and otherwise. Although the Cold War expanded across the globe influencing many countries, the scale of impact was much smaller than WWII.
In a speech about the horror of communism, John F. Kennedy says of Cuba’s alliance with the Soviet Union, “It is not the first time that communist tanks have rolled over gallant men and women fighting to redeem the independence of their homeland” (Kennedy pg. 281 SCC). Kennedy references combat in his speech, when in fact much of the deaths as a result of the Cold War had to do with modernization in China, tension in the Soviet Union, or proxy wars that took place in Korea, Vietnam, Greece, and Cuba, but not official combat. Because of this, the death toll and global impact of the Cold War was much smaller than WWII leading to a still still significant, but less profound global impact. In addition, during this era political riots and protests in South America left South America politically destroyed rendering it virtually useless to either the Soviet Union or the United States significantly lessening the impact that the Cold War had
(Wells). The Cold War and WWII were both influential and destructive wars, but the impact of WWII was broader and more profound than that of the Cold War. WWII caused millions more deaths than the Cold War many of which were civilians, was fought across the globe, and led to significant social and economic changes in the United States and South America, which is why WWII was ultimately more influential and impactful.
Rock, David. Latin America in the 1940's. University of California Press, 1994. UC Press E-Books Collection 1982-2004. Web. 28 May 2015. <http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft567nb3f6;brand=ucpress>.
Wells, Allen. "Latin America and the Cold War." Primary Source. Springshare, n.d. Web. 28 May 2015. <http://resources.primarysource.org/content.php?pid=86804&sid=645699>.
Dr. Katherine Hubler
HST 106H
May 28, 2015
WWII vs. the Cold War WWII and the Cold War were both very influential wars politically, socially, and economically worldwide. However, WWII had a larger and more profound global impact on society between 1937 and 1962 in comparison to the Cold War because it greatly impacted civilians across the globe, was fought worldwide, and led to drastic social and economic changes in the United States and South America. Very early on in WWII it became clear that the involvement of civilians was much greater than it had ever been in previous wars. During this time countries realized that booming economies win wars instead of actual man-to-man combat. This concept led to more military-related spending. As a result of this, workers became just as crucial to the war effort as the soldiers themselves. Often countries would plan attacks on industrial areas …show more content…
miles away from the front lines because the impact of these attacks would be felt more strongly. These actions blurred the boundaries between combat zone and civilian life leading to more civilian deaths and attacks on civilians. By the end of the war in 1945, 65-100 million were dead worldwide with the majority being civilians. Another reason for civilian involvement and civilian deaths had to due with racism and imperialist desires. During WWII, the Holocaust caused over 6 million Jewish deaths. When addressing the SS in Germany in 1943, Heinrich Himmler says of the killing the Jews, “Each of us shuddered, and yet each one knew he would do it again if it were ordered and it were necessary” (Himmler pg.43 CP). To many of those involved in the Nazi party, the destruction of the Jewish race was an obligation to their country that they must carry out. The Holocaust profoundly re-shaped European society as so many Jewish lives were lost. Similarly, during this era the Japanese planned to gain land and resources from China. To do this, they invaded Nanking in 1937 killing and raping many people. Dr. Robert Wilson, who was serving there at the time writes, “The slaughter of civilians is appalling. I could go on for pages telling of cases of rape and brutality almost beyond belief… I wonder when it will stop and we will be able to catch up with ourselves again” (Wilson pg. 36 CP). This account shows how the race-related and imperialistic goals of this war caused many civilian deaths created serious change in civilian life and culture. WWII was a global war. It was fought worldwide and involved people groups and countries from all over making for a very expansive influence. WWII was fought in Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific. Because the war was so widespread soldiers of various nationalities were recruited including French colonial soldiers, Indian men fighting on behalf of the British, and other colonial forces fighting for their mother country. This impacted economies in the colonies, as there was heavy taxation and forced labor as well as caused forced dislocations across much of the globe. The impact of this war being such a global one continued as nuclear warfare was introduced and attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki left thousands for dead demonstrating the extremely large impact that it had. WWII also caused drastic social and economic changes in both the United States and South America. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941, racism and fear of the Japanese abounded in the United States causing an executive order to be made for the Japanese, particularly those on the West Coast, to be re-located to Japanese internment camps. This affected over 100,000 American citizens and residents creating social change and hardship. In addition, military spending as a result of the United States boosted the economy and engaged South America as well. At the time, Latin America was rich with natural resources necessary in the production of weapons and other war-related products (Rock). The United States as well as various other countries decided to enlist South America, but because they were exporting far more than they were importing it led to a severe depression as a direct result of WWII impacting much of South and Central America (Rock). So, as the economy of United States was gaining momentum, that of South America was severely lagging behind as they continued to use their resources to support the war effort. This shows how far reaching the impact of WWII was economically and otherwise. Although the Cold War expanded across the globe influencing many countries, the scale of impact was much smaller than WWII.
In a speech about the horror of communism, John F. Kennedy says of Cuba’s alliance with the Soviet Union, “It is not the first time that communist tanks have rolled over gallant men and women fighting to redeem the independence of their homeland” (Kennedy pg. 281 SCC). Kennedy references combat in his speech, when in fact much of the deaths as a result of the Cold War had to do with modernization in China, tension in the Soviet Union, or proxy wars that took place in Korea, Vietnam, Greece, and Cuba, but not official combat. Because of this, the death toll and global impact of the Cold War was much smaller than WWII leading to a still still significant, but less profound global impact. In addition, during this era political riots and protests in South America left South America politically destroyed rendering it virtually useless to either the Soviet Union or the United States significantly lessening the impact that the Cold War had
(Wells). The Cold War and WWII were both influential and destructive wars, but the impact of WWII was broader and more profound than that of the Cold War. WWII caused millions more deaths than the Cold War many of which were civilians, was fought across the globe, and led to significant social and economic changes in the United States and South America, which is why WWII was ultimately more influential and impactful.
Rock, David. Latin America in the 1940's. University of California Press, 1994. UC Press E-Books Collection 1982-2004. Web. 28 May 2015. <http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft567nb3f6;brand=ucpress>.
Wells, Allen. "Latin America and the Cold War." Primary Source. Springshare, n.d. Web. 28 May 2015. <http://resources.primarysource.org/content.php?pid=86804&sid=645699>.