The United States was founded on the notion of freedom. Freedom, and the quest to achieve it, has been ingrained into American policy since the formation of the Declaration of Independence. As a nation, the United States of America has involved itself in the affairs of other countries as a way of spreading the freedom that the USA holds in such high regards. A prime example of this involvement is through the United State's role in World War II. Beginning as a neutral party, the USA became invested after the Pearl Harbor bombing of 1941. The United States joined the Allied powers.
The United States framed their involvement in WWII as a way to liberate those being targeted and killed by the Nazi regime. However, while fighting for the liberation of those abroad, the United States was forced to face that the practices and attitudes within their own country were not so different than the ones they were working to defeat. The employment of internment camps as a way to isolate Japanese Americans and the pervasive segregation accompanied by the enforcement of Jim Crow laws shed light on the oppression in America. The discrepancy between American ideals and policy with the action of governmental bodies and American citizens highlights the hypocrisy that defined the WWII era and led to the beginning of the Civil Rights movement.
The United States framed their involvement in WWII as a way to liberate those being targeted and killed by the Nazi regime. However, while fighting for the liberation of those abroad, the United States was forced to face that the practices and attitudes within their own country were not so different than the ones they were working to defeat. The employment of internment camps as a way to isolate Japanese Americans and the pervasive segregation accompanied by the enforcement of Jim Crow laws shed light on the oppression in America. The discrepancy between American ideals and policy with the action of governmental bodies and American citizens highlights the hypocrisy that defined the WWII era and led to the beginning of the Civil Rights movement.
The United States' Struggle with Freedom and Oppression
World War II in the USThe goal of the war and the ways in which Americans assisted their country.
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Internment CampsWhile liberating concentration camps in Europe, the United States created detention camps at home.
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Civil RightsEven after the war ended, minorities faced discriminatory laws and practices in the United States.
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Citations:
Header image used under CC0
(1) American Flag. (2017, April). American Flag [digital image]. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/american-flag-usa-symbol-national-2366602/
(2) Rosenthal, J. (Photographer) (1945, February 23). Raising of the Flag at Iwo Jima [digital image]. Retrieved from http://www.marines.mil/Photos.aspx?igphoto=199431
(3) Lee. R (Photographer). (1942, April). Japanese-Americans going to camp at Owens Valley gather around baggage car at the old Santa Fe Station. [digital image]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Internment.jpg
(4) Delano, J. (Photographer). (1940, May). At the bus station in Durham, North Carolina [digital image]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JimCrowInDurhamNC.jpg
Header image used under CC0
(1) American Flag. (2017, April). American Flag [digital image]. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/american-flag-usa-symbol-national-2366602/
(2) Rosenthal, J. (Photographer) (1945, February 23). Raising of the Flag at Iwo Jima [digital image]. Retrieved from http://www.marines.mil/Photos.aspx?igphoto=199431
(3) Lee. R (Photographer). (1942, April). Japanese-Americans going to camp at Owens Valley gather around baggage car at the old Santa Fe Station. [digital image]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Internment.jpg
(4) Delano, J. (Photographer). (1940, May). At the bus station in Durham, North Carolina [digital image]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JimCrowInDurhamNC.jpg