History concepts and applications

¶ … share with you my life story and some American History. Throughout this paper we will discuss the many changes that took place in America between World War I and the 1970's. We will discuss the causes of the war and its aftermath. We will also present facts about World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War and Vietnam. In addition we will explore the ways in which the Civil Rights Movement changed America forever. The conclusion will be an analysis of the event that has been the most significant in reshaping American life forever. First lets discuss how I arrived in America.

The year was 1916 and I was 9 years old, the war was in progress and we were living in Russia. At the time Russia was in political chaos it was being transformed from a Czarist monarchy to a Communist one and the nation was at war with itself. (Russia in Transition: The Diplomatic Papers of David Rowland Francis, U.S.)

This chaos led my parents to the conclusion that life in America would provide stability and peace. So we arrived at Ellis Island in October of 1916.

World war I was well underway; it began in 1914 when the balance of power among European Nations began to shift. Austria and Germany were attempting to control the Balkans and Great Britain and France were opposed to the other nations' control of the Balkans. Great Britain and France felt that this control would cause instability in their own nations. (Conflicting National Interest) All of these circumstances led to the "Great War."

When we arrived in the States, America was not yet engaged in the war, which did not come until 1917. We settled in the Manhattan burrow of New York and began our new lives. My father got a job in a textile factory, my mother stayed at home and I started the fourth grade. In the beginning it was very difficult for me to learn the language but eventually I learned and excelled in school. America's engagement in the war saw an increase in the demand for workers because many of the men had been sent to fight in the war. Women and minorities were called upon to occupy the positions that were once only available to white men. This job availability especially in the north caused the largest inter-country migration in U.S. history. This migration consisted of Blacks moving from the rural south to the cities of the north like; Chicago, Detroit, New York and the District of Columbia. This migration introduced Black culture (Music, Food, way of life) to the rest of America this changed American culture forever.

The war ended in 1919 when I was 13 and reconstruction began. The reconstruction brought about the concept of urban renewal and international cooperation. After the war many nations began to understand the lasting impact of war on their own separate interests; this spawned communication and co-responsibility among the nations of the world.

Lets skip ahead to the World War II period, the war began in 1939 and I was 33 years old. I had been married for ten years and had two children and was a housewife. The war began as a conflict between Germany and Anglo French coalition but quickly broadened to engage most nations of the world. The war saw the introduction of two new weapons: the atomic bomb and a long-range rocket. To date WWII has been the most devastating war in history in terms of loss of human life and destruction. ("World War II")

The End of World War II brought on another battle that was known as the Cold War. This battle was between the U.S. And the U.S.S.R. It lasted from the mid-40's until the 80's. This was a war of Ideologies; between democracy and communism. ("Cold War") During this time my children had gone off to college and I was enjoying an empty nest.

Within the time period of the Cold War to other wars had arisen, the Korean War and Vietnam. The Korean War was fought from 1950 until 1953. This war put the United Nations up against North Korea and China. Vietnam (U.S. involvement from 1965-1975) was a war that was opposed by many and the soldiers of the war were not well received when they returned to the states.