History of U.S. up to JFK - Essay Example

History of U.S. up to JFK The aftermath of World War II (WWII) was critical to the history, growth, and development of the United States. Following the war, United States mobilized enormous resources for social, economic, and political development. As WWII came to end, the country was ready to pursue social and economic policies that would address issues experienced in 1945. During and shortly after WWII, majority of Americans plunged into poverty. More than half of the population had no access to basic needs, an aspect that almost crippled social progress in the country (Chafe 91).

After WWII, United States embraced capitalism at its best. During this time, change was an inevitable factor throughout the country. War bonds worth hundreds of billions of dollars matured, which gave the country the so much needed financial resources to kick start the economy. Using these and other government-provided resources, the country moved towards the realization of an economic boom. People’s quality of life improved, setting a desirable path for social, economic, and political prosperity.

With massive investments already executed, the American workforce became the next point of focus. Among the most outstanding actions in this regard was the implementation of the G.I Bill. The G.I Bill accorded war veterans many different benefits, most of which played the role of financing education and training of workers for the realization of a knowledgeable, skilled, and reliable workforce (Chafe 107).Another key observation of the post WWII era was the emergence of labor unions in America.

The 1950s marked the peak of labor union membership, and this allowed low-income workers to migrate from the countryside to towns and cities in search of better job opportunities (Chafe 168). By 1960, this migration process had allowed majority of Americans to hold employment positions that were better paying compared to previous couple of decades. Consequently, the growth and development of suburbs became vibrant across the U.S.Most importantly, U.S culture changed significantly between 1945 and 1963.

Following the WWII, both the South and the West became important political regions as power shifted away from the Northeast and Midwest (Chafe 119). During this time, U.S had not only addressed major social issues, but also nurtured a cultural and social belief of international control. American people were convinced that they had a primary role to play in maintaining global peace and political order.A critical look at the global political economy revealed that the U.S was subject to the influence of international diversity.

Power shifts from one region to another broadened people’s cultural perspectives. Social and economic collaborations within domestic boundaries became increasingly common around the U.S. At the same time, the newly developed American culture of global control through military superpower resulted in the proliferation of cold war-based practices. Tensions between U.S, Russia, and their allies increased from time to time, marking yet another key development in the post WWII era. Events related to the Cold War and the push more enhanced foreign policy further shifted U.

S culture towards internationalism. By the time JFK was assassinated in 1963, America’s social, economic, and political progress stood at its best, but the cold war factor remained.Works CitedChafe, William. The Unfinished Journey: America since World War II. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print.