Introduction

Second World War is beyond any doubt the most devastating conflict in the history of mankind. It started in 1939 and was over in 1945, lasting for 6 years. The conflict first involved only about ten European states, but later spread to include over 50 countries on several major combat theatres. The war was fought in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Ocean. Industrial potential and personnel were the deciding factors in this global battle. By the end of war completely new weapon types were introduced, including long-range missiles and nuclear bombs. Most of the fighting, however, was performed using the upgraded weaponry of the World War I: aircraft and tanks were the deciding force. (World War II; Encyclopedia – History.com)

The after-war statistics vividly demonstrate the scale of the conflict that shocked the entire world: 61 countries with the total population of over 1,5 billion people were involved. Over 110 million people were mobilized into military service throughout the world. USA accounted for over 10% of these people, involving 16 million Americans in active service during the war. Economic consequences were also great – military spending throughout the world exceeded $1 trillion. Most of the money was spent by the US – over $300 billion, a significant part of which was used through the lend lease program. These sums, however, do not fully reflect the full costs of wear. USSR, for example, claims to have lost up to 30% of the national wealth, Germany was virtually ruined and Great Britain lost its dominance over the sees. The only country that played a significant role in the conflict but did not suffer the terrible losses in the industrial and people potential was the United States. Soviet Union, for example, lost about 20 million people (13 million soldiers and 7 million civilians), while the USA suffered almost no civilian losses and only about 300 000 soldiers. (World War II; Encyclopedia – History.com)

Reasons for US involvement in the conflict

It is still being discussed whether the USA would enter the World War II had Japan not attacked Pearl Harbor. Such questions are impossible to answer, because history is the subject that does not allow assumptions, however, we may discuss the actual reasoning for America entering the conflict.

As it has been stated above, World War II was unprecedented by its scope. Soon after the beginning of the campaign it became clear that the coalition, that won would largely predetermine the future world order. American leaders clearly realized that if the country did not start active operations against the Axis, it would have been isolated from the world order that would be established afterwards (Winkler, A.M. 2000).

Moral reasons are among the basic ones for the US involvement in real military actions. Long before the beginning of the War in 1939 it was clear that the Nazi regime was inhuman and totalitarian. Being a developed industrialized democratic state, United States simply could not ignore the fact that the very basic human rights and freedoms are being completely neglected in Germany. Conservative part of the US political elite still tried to stick to the isolationist policy, claiming that the domestic issues are of number one priority and that no country should interfere even in case of obviously immoral policies of the other state. Taft was one of the politicians that strongly opposed any US interference, he claimed that “no single nation should range over the world, like a knight-errant, protect democracy and ideals of good faith, and tilt, like Don Quixote, against the windmills of fascism.” (Wilson, J. 1993) Taft supposed that government was supposed to protect liberty at home, and not try to expand it elsewhere in the world. Liberal politicians, however, headed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt were sure that a democratic state could not calmly observe the rest of the world sinking into chaos.