The End of the War

Q:In your opinion, was America justified in using the atomic bomb in an effort to defeat Japan? Make sure to cite factual evidence from your readings in your response.

A: When dealing with the issue of the atomic bomb on Japan, you have to think like the world powers at this time. They probably thought in a utilitarian sense, they figured that if they went to war on the mainland island of Japan, then there would be many more casualties to both the Americans, and the Japanese than if they just ended it and used the atomic bomb. However, I still do not think that using the atomic bomb was justified. I feel this way because according to the readings, the Japanese knew they had been defeated and had even sent “peace feelers” to Moscow. The Americans even knew this, yet they used the atom bomb instead. Another reason I feel that the atom bomb was unjustified is because the casualties that were sustained by the Japanese were almost all civilians, as opposed to the soldiers that would have died.

Military Engagements

Q:According to your reading, America’s failure to extend more effective help to European Jews “may have owed as much to a failure of moral imagination as to a lack of either empathy or means” (809). In your opinion, which of these three factors was the primary reason for America’s limited assistance?

A: In my opinion, America's failure to extend more effective help to European Jews because of the means. The American's tried to get German Jews from German discrimination and concentration camps by doing numerous things. President Roosevelt, sped up the visa project allowing them to migrate to the U.S. faster. Eleanor Roosevelt also founded the International Rescue Comittee in 1933 also making easier for German Jews to come to the U.S. However, when Hitler tightened his grip on all Germans, it made it harder for the Americans to help out. It was hard for Americans to get Jews out of the Nazi deathtrap. Therefore, I believe that it was the means that was detrimental to the Americans getting the Jews out of Nazi regime.

The Battle of Midway

Q:Describe your battle and explain its significance to the overall war effort - don't get bogged down with details about troop movements, etc. Each person will create an individual blog entry.

A: The battle of Midway was fought between the U.S., and the Empire of Japan. It was a month after the Battle of Coral Sea, and about six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During this battle, the Japanese were looking to get a victory so they would be able to get a hold on Hawaii and own the Pacific. However, American codetalkers deciphered the Japanese code and knew the attack was coming. So the Americans sent air raids on the Japanese cruisers, and the Japanese (who were expecting ship vs. ship) fell one by one. This gave the U.S. an important victory and boosted the morale of the troops.

War in the Pacific and Europe

Q: Compare and Contrast "island hopping" in the Pacific and D-Day in Europe.

A: These military advances were on opposite sides of the world, but were made for the same cause. In the Pacific, soldiers were constantly being transported from island to island. Whether it be Guadalcanal, or Iwo Jima, they were moving to territories that always seemed to be occupied by the Japanese. During D-Day, the soldiers were against a different the Nazis in Normandy. The type of battles were different as well. The Japanese used guerilla warfare and were very sneaky, where as in D-Day it was all out war. However, these two were similar because they fought against the Axis Powers

War in the Pacific and Europe

Blog #5

Q:How did World War II transform American industry (make sure to utilize factual information from the clip)? Also, who was “Rosie the Riveter”?

A: Before World War II, America was already a factory nation. Once World War II occurred, it was still a factory nation, but the supplies that they made changed. During World War II, the U.S. needed all the war supplies they could get, consequently, they ordered all the factories to make war materials. This led to towns, such as Mobile, Alabama to become WarTowns, places where they produced these war materials. Factories also boomed. In 1940 a shipbuilding company had 240 employees, but by 1943, it had 11,600 employees. One thing that people did not realize however, was that most of the workers were women. That was made in part largely to Rosie the Riveter, who could be found on propaganda posters telling women that they too could help with the war.

Blog #4

Q: Select one of the following American identity groups (Japanese-Americans, women, or African Americans) and write a brief first-person narrative describing how America’s declaration of war has affected your life.

A: (Japanese American)- after Pearl Harbor, and especially after America's declaration of war life has been harder for me and my family. Even though I have been an American citizen my whole life, I feel like an outsiders. People are looking at me funny, and I just don't fit in anymore. I have heard horror stories of some Japanese getting beat up, and I truly hope this doesn't happen to me.