Homework answers / question archive / World War II is often described as the "Good War" in American history, as a time that brought Americans together in a common purpose

World War II is often described as the "Good War" in American history, as a time that brought Americans together in a common purpose

Sociology

Share With

World War II is often described as the "Good War" in American history, as a time that brought Americans together in a common purpose. Many Americans, presumably without wanting another such war, wish that the country could somehow reproduce the war's unifying effect.

Here's the question: If a major war broke out tomorrow, would Americans rally together the way they did in the 1940s?

Answering the question requires you to consider two eras: the 1940s and today. Were Americans really as unified then as the "Good War" description asserts? And for today: How deep are our current divisions?

The evidence you provide for the 1940s should be historical and specific. The evidence you provide for today will be more speculative. But feel free to cite recent examples of when Americans might have been expected to pull together - and did or didn't

Assume that the war in question is a big deal, requiring a major effort, but not a nuclear war that kills half the U.S. population in the first two hours.