Documents from Reading the American Past

Chapter 25

Introduction to the Documents

Nothing in the previous history of the world compared with the conflagration of World War II. The entire globe became engulfed by fighting, preparing to fight, or supplying combatants. The high stakes of the conflict were made clear by the attack on Pearl Harbor and reports of Nazi anti-Semitism. Nearly all Americans enlisted in the war effort, whether or not they wore a uniform. The following documents illustrate some of the experiences, at home and overseas, shared by millions of Americans during World War II and suggest the long-term consequences of those experiences.