IB History Paper 3 | Topic 13: The Second World War and the Americas (1933–1945)
Hemispheric reactions to events in Europe and Asia:
Cooperation + Neutrality
The primary goal was to maintain hemispheric unity, promote cooperation, and ensure neutrality among American nations in the face of the global conflict.
Latin American countries played a crucial role in supporting the Allied war effort by providing raw materials, offering military bases, and contributing troops to the war.
Mexico:
Provided raw materials like oil to meet the growing demand from the Allies for fuel. This was crucial for sustaining military operations + industrial production in Allied countries.
Mexico declared war on the Axis powers (1942), aligning itself with the Allies. This decision allowed Mexico to provide military support and collaborate with Allied nations in intelligence-sharing and anti-submarine warfare efforts.
Brazil:
Provided rubber which was essential for the production of tires, machinery, and other wartime materials.
Brazil allowed the United States to establish air bases on its territory, such as the airfield at Natal, which served as a crucial refueling and transit point for Allied aircraft flying between the Americas and Africa.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy
Aimed to improve relations with Latin American countries.
Promoted principles of non-intervention and mutual respect and encouraged economic cooperation and trade between US and Latin American nations leading to increased investment, infrastructure development, and economic growth in the region.
Involvement of two countries in the Americas in World War II:
Brazil:
Officially entered WWII (1942) after suffering attacks on its merchant ships by German submarines.
The Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB) was sent to fight alongside Allied forces in the Italian Campaign. The Brazilian troops arrived in Italy (1944) stationed in the region of Naples to which they took part in the Battle of Monte Castello + the Battle of Montese. They successfully captured a German stronghold in the Northern Apennines.
Canada:
Canadian forces fought in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific in battles such as the Battle of the Atlantic, the Italian Campaign, and the Normandy landings on D-Day.
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) played a vital role in protecting Allied shipping convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic hunting German U-boats + supporting amphibious landings.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) contributed thousands of aircraft + personnel to Allied air operations doing strategic bombing offenses against Germany + air support for ground forces during the Normandy invasion.
Social Impact of WWII:
Gender Roles + Women in the Workforce:
The demand for labor led to a significant increase in employment opportunities for women in factories, offices, and military services, challenging traditional gender norms.
Advancements in Civil Rights for Minorities:
African Americans served in the armed forces in segregated units, but their bravery and sacrifices helped to undermine racial prejudices and contribute to the broader civil rights movement.
Executive Order 8802 (1941) prohibited racial discrimination in the defense industry.
Conscription and Mobilization:
Led to the mobilization of millions of men for military service. Many families experienced the strain of separation as loved ones went off to war. The wartime absence of breadwinners and caregivers posed challenges for families, particularly for women left to manage households and raise children on their own.
This disrupted traditional patterns of work and migration, as men left their jobs and communities to serve in the military. This reshaped labor markets and demographic trends across the Americas.
Treatment of Japanese:
Japanese Americans in the United States:
Executive Order 9066 authorized the forced relocation and internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans living on the West Coast due to fears of espionage and sabotage, driven by racism and wartime hysteria. Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes, businesses, and communities and incarcerated in hastily built internment camps located in remote areas across the western United States.
Japanese Latin Americans:
Japanese Latin Americans were forcibly deported to the United States and interned in American camps during WWII. The US government orchestrated the deportation of thousands of individuals of Japanese descent. These individuals were subjected to harsh conditions + mistreatment in American camps.
Japanese Canadians:
The government implemented policies of forced relocation + internment targeting Japanese Canadians living on the West Coast to remote camps in the interior of British Columbia. Their properties and possessions were confiscated, and families were separated and displaced.
The internment of Japanese Canadians was justified on grounds of national security and wartime necessity.
The Canadian government officially apologized (1988) for the internment + provided compensation to survivors and their descendants.
Reasons for and significance of US use of atomic weapons against Japan:
The decision to use atomic weapons on Hiroshima + Nagasaki against Japan was driven by the desire to end the war quickly, saving American lives, and demonstrating military superiority to the Soviet Union. Japan surrendered, effectively ending WWII.
Economic and diplomatic effects of World War II in two countries of the Americas:
United States:
The war stimulated the American economy, lifting the country from the Great Depression. Government spending on military production created millions of jobs and spurred industrial expansion. Factories were converted to produce war materials such as tanks, aircraft, ships, and ammunition leading to increased output and productivity.
The war also prompted social changes, including greater mobility and migration as people moved to urban areas for employment. It also challenged traditional gender roles and paved the way for advancements in civil rights and gender equality.
WWII solidified the US' position as a global superpower + as a leader of the Allied coalition, playing a central role in the establishment of international institutions such as the United Nations aimed at promoting peace, security, and cooperation among nations.
The US adopted a policy of internationalism and leadership, seeking to promote democracy, free markets, and collective security. The onset of the Cold War with the Soviet Union led to the adoption of a policy of containment aimed at preventing the spread of communism and supporting anti-communist governments and movements worldwide. Initiatives such as the Marshall Plan which provided economic aid to rebuild war-torn Europe and the establishment of NATO demonstrated America's commitment to maintaining stability and promoting Western values in the face of Soviet expansionism.
Brazil:
Brazil's involvement in World War II led to increased demand for its raw materials like rubber, minerals, and agricultural products which were vital for the Allied war effort. This stimulated Brazil's industrial production, as the government invested in infrastructure and manufacturing capacity to meet wartime needs. Factories were expanded or built to produce military equipment, ammunition, and supplies.
Brazil's alliance with the Allies strengthened its ties with Western powers and reshaped its foreign policy in the post-war period. It became a founding member of the United Nations and actively participated in efforts to promote peace, stability, and cooperation among nations.