World War II: The American Identity

The "American" identity is a lot different than how it was when the country was first established in 1776. People believed it represented freedom and opportunity. But after many events and many changing trends, the "American" identity evolved. After World War II, the world developed a different view of America then it had before. Some said we were heroes of the war and an industrial powerhouse, others said we destroyed lives with our atomic bomb. But no matter which point you take, you can agree, the role the United States played in World War II during the 1940's shifted the meaning of the "American" identity.

American soldiers put their lives on the line to help our allies fighting in Europe. When the war emerged, we as Americans had

to decide what position we would take and how we wanted to be identified as a nation. "They will be sore tired, by night and by day, without rest—until the victory is won." (Roosevelt). In the end, our soldiers had to fight through the hardships of war and had come out victorious. We have realized that risking our lives was worth the lives we helped save by entering the war. Throughout the war, 418,500 American lives were lost fighting for our country ("World War II Statistics"). Many families had to mourn the loss of their loved ones during the war, but others welcomed their soldiers home as brave, honorable men. The United States rewarded these men for their service by awarding 464 total soldiers in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard received medals of honor after the war ("World War II Statistics").

The United States was not the only country that was at risk of losing lives. Many countries in Europe were

In order to win the war, the United States had to be better than their enemies in some way, so we decided to use our industrial skills to advance our technology. We advanced many weapons including toxic gas and submarines, but one invention was most recognizable from all around the world. The development of the atomic bomb was kept secret for many years but once it was dropped, it was remembered as the most destructible weapon in the world. "A mushroom cloud reached 40,000 feet, blowing out windows of civilian homes up to 100 miles away." ("The Manhattan Project").

Although Americans believed we acted for the better, people across the globe would say that we were destroyers for dropping the destructive atomic bomb. Between 90,000 and 166,000 people are believed to have died from the bomb in the four-month period following the explosion (LeMay and Tibbets). The bomb destroyed homes and families that resided in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and many Americans believed it to be a victory.

The "American" identity can be viewed in many different ways depending on what you know and what you believe. For most Americans, we believe that we stand for freedom and liberty. We believe that some of the old meaning of being American, when the colonies first emerged, is still true. But people around the globe may view us differently after the actions our county has taken. Some nations in Europe may believe that we are worthy allies and that we are a technologically advanced powerhouse. But others may believe that we destroy lives to win wars. Overall, the "American" identity has changed since it was first discovered and will continue to change over time.