World War II (1939-1946)

de Salem Press

This 2-volume resource contains 80 primary source documents that provide a compelling view of this unique period of American history. World War II is remembered not only for its violent encounters on the battlefield, its war of words between competing ideologies, its genocidal events, and, ultimately, its reconfiguration of Europe. It is also remembered for having reshaped whole areas of modern life, from economics and social relations to politics and popular culture. Along with the Civil War, it continues to be one of the most written about topics in US (and international) history. World War II had a lasting impact on the United States, both domestically and in terms of the nation's place in the international community. Besides altering values and patterns of life, the war gave rise to a massive military-industrial complex involving government agencies, the military, corporations, and universities in the pursuit of national security and economic and political advantage. Historians and the American populace at large will surely continue to investigate this rich and fascinating subject as they seek to understand the basis of the modern nation. Defining Documents in American History: World War II provides detailed analyses of key documents produced from 1936-1947, organized under nine broad categories: The Lead-Up to War; Pearl Harbor; Domestic Aliens; Other Demographics; Foreign Policy; War and Victory; The Holocaust; Nuremberg; The Atom Bomb. Each document is supported by a critical essay, written by historians and teachers, that includes a Summary Overview, Defining Moment, Author Biography, Document Analysis, and Essential Themes. Readers will appreciate the diversity of the collected texts, including journals, letters, speeches, political sermons, laws, government reports, and court cases, among other genres. An important feature of each essay is a close reading of the primary source that develops evidence of broader themes, such as author's rhetorical purpose, social or class position, point of view, and other relevant issues. In addition, essays are organized by section themes, listed above, highlighting major issues of the period, many of which extend across eras and continue to shape American Life. Each section begins with a brief introduction that defines questions and problems underlying the subjects in the historical documents. A brief glossary is included at the end of each document, highlighting keywords that are important in the study of the primary source. Each essay also includes a Bibliography and Additional Reading section for further research. - Publisher.