U.S. in World Wars and
Cold War
World Wars I and II
• Unusual cases in military history
• “Total war” approach – very modern
concept
• New technologies rapidly changing
warfare
• Even during the wars themselves
• Global scale
• World War II a bizarre example, not a
typical example of warfare
“Total War”
• Nation vs. Nation
• Enemy: “Britain,” “Germany,” “Russia”
• Civilian/military distinction blurred
• Even race vs. race: “the Japanese”
• All society subject to mobilization
• Mobilizes: material resources, organizations,
culture, emotions, bodies
• New strategies
• Total blockade – Britain, WWI
• Submarine blockade – Germany, WWI
• Strategic bombing – various, WWII
World War I (1914-18)
• European conflict
Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey
Allied Powers – Britain, France, Russia, (Japan)
• U.S. neutral but leaning to Allied side
• U.S. joins Allied side in 1917
Becomes “Associated” Powers because the U.S. not
fully an ally
• Global aspects
• European empires went to war
• Japan joined Allied side to get German colonies in
Asia/Pacific
Allied vs. Central Powers
World War I (1914-18)
Woodrow Wilson and “Wilsonianism”
• Foreign policy must be guided by ideals
• Civilized conduct, collaboration, rights of countries
• War should be just about territory and wealth
• WWI a war to safeguard democracy
• World needs a new international structure
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To limit the possibility of war
To act as a forum to air grievances
Permanent body, not just occasional conferences
For international cooperation on common issues
U.S. must have an active role in these organizations
• Context: WWI deadliest international conflict EVER
(Before WWII broke the record)
World War I (1914-18)
Wilson’s “14 Points”
• Blueprint for ending WWI
• Designed to prevent similar wars in the future
• To be basis for ending the war – a deal that all can
agree on
• Germany ultimately surrendered on basis of 14
Points
• Ideals
• Open diplomacy, free trade, self-determination,
disarmament
• Specific territorial transfers
• Most of the points are about who gets what land
• “League of Nations”
“Isolationism”
American disillusionment with World War I experience
• By 1919, most Americans thought entering WWI had
been a mistake
• 1918-20 a depressing, frightening time for many
Americans
• Ironic results
U.S. helps win the war, but does not ratify the peace
treaty
U.S. President created an international org. that the
U.S. never joined
U.S. President more popular in Europe than at home
John T.
McCutcheon
“Interrupting
the Ceremony”
1918
“Isolationism”
“Isolation” mostly applied to European
diplomacy
U.S. increased its involvement in Latin America
in the 1920’s
American business, culture, and NGO’s
expanded their international presence
“Lesson of History” – 1920’s
Insulate the U.S. even more from European affairs
Don’t let internationalists (like Wilson) draw the country into a
European war
Applications, 1930’s: Neutrality Acts
No loans to belligerents
No arms sales to belligerents
“Cash and carry” policy for everything else
“Lesson of History” – 1920’s
“Militarism” is the greatest danger in the world
Applications, 1920’s:
Washington Naval Conference, 1921-2
Limit naval arms races
U.S. unilaterally scraps some of its ships
Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928
The most powerful nations renounced war as a
tool of foreign policy
World War II
• Asia: 1931-45
• Europe: 1939-45
• U.S. neutral but leaning toward Allied side
August, 1941 – Atlantic Charter
U.S. and Britain agree to “bring an end to Nazi tyranny”
• Japanese naval attack at Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7, 1941)
accelerated U.S. entry into the war
World War II
• Very unusual war in military and diplomatic
history
• New approach
• U.S. as “arsenal of democracy” + major
military power
• Allied goal: unconditional surrender of Axis
powers
• Prevent future world wars by occupying
and redesigning the defeated countries
• Create stronger international organization
(United Nations) to maintain peace
Pearl Harbor attack
December 7 (local date), 1941
(December 8 in Japan, across the date line)
Japanese strategic logic
Calculated, rational, strategic decision
Not anti-American hatred or “pure treachery” or
“because they hated freedom”
1. War in China is the primary front
2. Japan needs oil, U.S. has cut off its oil sales to J.
3. Dutch East Indies has oil, so invade it
4. Invading D.E. Indies will lead to war w/ U.S.
5. If war inevitable, then start it in best way for J.
6. So, preemptive strike on Pearl Harbor (and
Philippines)
Pearl Harbor attack
December 7, 1941
Pearl Harbor a secondary objective for Japan at the time
Meanwhile, naval/land/air assaults on:
• Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, Indonesia
Mutual underestimation, mutual racism
The Pacific,
Dec., 1941
World War II – effects
• 30-50 million dead, most in Soviet Union and China
• Tens of millions displaced
• Victorious countries (except U.S.) in ruins
• 2 superpowers left standing – US, USSR
• U.S. w/ largest navy and air force, 2nd largest army, atomic
weapons
• Brought into direct contact – Germany, Korea
• Continued “bipolar” world
• Both applied clear but incompatible “Lessons of History”
to the postwar world
• Cold War with roots in WWII
World War II – effects
• Weakened European empires
• Decolonization movements, 1945-70’s
• Colonies and former colonies – location of most of the wars
since 1945
• New global organizations – United Nations
• Human rights, international law structures
• Prosecutions for “genocide,” “war crimes,” “crimes against
humanity”
“Lessons of History” – 1945
• Isolationism was a big mistake
• U.S. security depends on being more involved in the
world, not less
• U.S. needs global presence, not just hemispheric one
• Stand up to aggression immediately, no matter
where it appears
Cold War applications, 1946-91:
Communists = Stalin = Hitler = totalitarian aggressors
Korea, Viet Nam
The Cold War
• 1946-1991
• Tension between U.S. and Soviet Union (USSR)
• “Cold” part
• US and Sov. U. treated each other as enemies
• Prepared for war w/ each other at any moment
• But, did not go to war directly w/ each other
• “Hot” reality
• U.S. and Soviets w/ “proxy” wars around the
world
• Korea, Viet Nam, Afghanistan
• Small-scale operations, assassinations, etc.
Global commitment – Cold War
• Truman doctrine, 1947
U.S. commitment to stopping totalitarian regimes anywhere
and everywhere
Bipolar world view -- “Free world” versus the “other” world
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), 1949
• Permanent peacetime alliance with Canada, Western
Europe, Iceland, and Turkey
(What would George Washington say?)
• U.S. immediately involved in any future European war
• “Pactomania,” 1949-55
By 1955, U.S. in permanent peacetime alliances in:
W. Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, East Asia,
Southeast Asia, and Australia/New Zealand