Free Essays on World War II

The most sinister and evil war in world history was fought from 1939 to 1945. This war came to be known as World War II (WWII). The entire world was at war. On one side there was the Allied Powers and on the other side there was the Axis Powers. The Allied Powers included the United States (didn’t join until 1941), France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union (didn’t join until 1941). The Axis Powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan. The United States fought two wars, one in Europe and the other in the Pacific. When Japan bombed the U.S.’s Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii the United States entered WWII the next day. Franklin Roosevelt called it â€Å"a ate which will live in infamy.† (Cybriwsky, Encarta) In 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry was sent to Japan on a peace mission. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan was still in the feudal age where the Shogun was the head of the government and the Emperor was just the face of the government. They were still living in the medieval age. In the process Perry showed the Japanese all of his modern tools and weapons. This in fact triggered the industrialization of Japan. The war brought an economic boom to the small island nation. The Imperialism age soon came to Japan and they decided to do the same thing every other country started to do in the latter part of the 19th century. As of 1900 the Japanese spheres of influence had reached Korea, Russia, Taiwan (then known as Formosa), and parts of China. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 427) In WWI Japan joined the side of the Allies against Germany and the Austria-Hungarian Empire. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 455) In 1904 Japan attacked the largest country in the world at Port Arthur, Russia. Then the Russo-Japanese War followed. After one year of battle the Russians were ready to negotiate. Japan got possession a Russian island and the Liaodong Peninsula. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan had defeated the largest country in the world. In 1906 Japan took over Kore... Free Essays on World War II Free Essays on World War II The most sinister and evil war in world history was fought from 1939 to 1945. This war came to be known as World War II (WWII). The entire world was at war. On one side there was the Allied Powers and on the other side there was the Axis Powers. The Allied Powers included the United States (didn’t join until 1941), France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union (didn’t join until 1941). The Axis Powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan. The United States fought two wars, one in Europe and the other in the Pacific. When Japan bombed the U.S.’s Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii the United States entered WWII the next day. Franklin Roosevelt called it â€Å"a ate which will live in infamy.† (Cybriwsky, Encarta) In 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry was sent to Japan on a peace mission. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan was still in the feudal age where the Shogun was the head of the government and the Emperor was just the face of the government. They were still living in the medieval age. In the process Perry showed the Japanese all of his modern tools and weapons. This in fact triggered the industrialization of Japan. The war brought an economic boom to the small island nation. The Imperialism age soon came to Japan and they decided to do the same thing every other country started to do in the latter part of the 19th century. As of 1900 the Japanese spheres of influence had reached Korea, Russia, Taiwan (then known as Formosa), and parts of China. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 427) In WWI Japan joined the side of the Allies against Germany and the Austria-Hungarian Empire. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 455) In 1904 Japan attacked the largest country in the world at Port Arthur, Russia. Then the Russo-Japanese War followed. After one year of battle the Russians were ready to negotiate. Japan got possession a Russian island and the Liaodong Peninsula. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan had defeated the largest country in the world. In 1906 Japan took over Kore... Free Essays on World War II World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese bombers were speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch weaved in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until finally all his ammunition was spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to at least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. He was desperate to do anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the camera mounted on his plane told the tal...