The 1940's: A Decade of Hope and New Possibilities

Important Events, People, Technology, Artwork, Book, and Scientific Discovery in the 1940's

Important Events
Pearl Harbour (Dec. 7th 1941)
On the morning of December 7th 1941, on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, Pearl Harbour was attacked by Japanese planes and Submarines. The U.S. Pacific fleet and nearby airfields and Naval bases were attacked. In the aftermath of the event, 8 American Battleships and 10 other vessels were sunk. 200 American planes were destroted and about 3000 U.S. Naval or Military personnel were either killed or hurt. This event was impotant because it showed Japan's loyalty( the Axis powers) and it got the U.S. involved in World War II. This event shows that one's lust for power will only lead to one's demise. This is true for Japan.

(http://www.historychannel.com/thcsearch/thc_resourcedetail.do?encyc_id=218809) (information)
(www.history.navy.mil/.../pearlhbr/ph-wvt.htm) (picture)

D-Day (June 6th 1944)
On June 6th 1944, the allied forces put in motion operation overlord, which was their invasion of Europe. This was the largest amphibious assault in history. After the gruesome event, the allies emerged victorious. They took many measures to ensure minimum losses, like decieving the Germans into believing that the invasion would be somewhere else. They owed their success to the supreme commander, Dwight Eisenhower. He did not think that the plan would succeed. He even prepared a letter explaining the operation's failure. However, due to the allied victory, he never had to use it. This event was important because it was the first step for the allies in liberating Europe. The were changing the tide of the war.

(http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/features/d-day.php) (information)
(http://www.wk-2.de/pictures/d_day_01_klein.jpg) (picture)

Nuremberg Trials (Nov.20th 1945-Oct. 1st 1946)
The Nuremberg Trials were a set of Trials held in the Nuremberg. The people that were tried were involved with the Nazi's during World War II and the Holocaust. The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was very strict about using the right methods, and he opposed Stalin's idea. Stalin's idea was to execute all the German captives. Churchill responded, that he would not just kill peoplke who were fighting for their country. Most of the people that were tried faced the death sentence, life imprisonment, or 10-40 years in prison. Few were aquitted of their charges. This event is important because it shows that justice will punish thise who are truly guilty.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Trials)

Important People
Mahatma Gandhi
I think Gandhi(1869-1948) was important in the decade because he represented liberty, and using non- violent ways to achieve anything. In 1947, his peaceful methods paid off. India and Pakistan achieved independence from Britain. He was once jailed for conspiracy, which only shows that he , like all of us, have to stand for what you believe in.He is reminder to us that there are always alternatives to violent ways like war. Further more, he tried to end the Hindu-Muslim conflict in Bengal.


(http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9305898 ) (information)
(http://zagrebsummit.yoga-in-daily-life.hr/download/Gandhi1.jpg) (picture)




Adolf Hitler
I think Adolf Hitler(1889-1945) was important to the 1940's because he was the one who started the war. During this decade, he ordered one of the most horrible genocides in history. The Holocaust was a true symbol of racism, and those ideas are the kind that create conflict even to today. He was certainly not for democracy, since he overhtrew the Bavarian government and became Germany's dictator. He represented nationalism, because he used it to get popularity in Germany and cause war. This was a negative way to use nationalism.





(http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9340144) (information)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_hitler) (picture)




Dwight Eisenhower
I think that General Eisenhower(1890-1969) was important in this decade because he was a main force of mot ivation not only for the people of America, but for the very soldiers that fought the battles. With his brilliant tactics, he outmanuevered the German Forces and brought about the liberation of Western Europe under operation overlord. The well chosen supreme commander of the allied forces brought an end to the second World War, and later served his country even more during his two-term presidency.




(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower) (information)
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/de34.html) (picture)


Important Technology
ENIAC(Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)
ENIAC was the first electronic computer built. It was designed to solve equations and problems. However, its main purpose was actually for calculating artillery firing tables for the Ballistics research labaratory of the U.S. army. It was also used to help design the hydrogen bomb. This invention was important because it was a gateway to a whole new branch of technology. Today's computers were all inspired by ENIAC.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENIAC)


Atomic Bomb
The atomic was a gesture of mass destruction. However, it is the reason the allied forces were able to defeat Japan. The two main decisions were to use the atomic bombs or to attack mainland Japan. The bombs were chosen due to fear that an invasion would result in too many casualties. An atomic's explosion is caused by the splitting of immense nuclei, which releases atomic energy. This bomb will always remind us to always use peaceful methods rather than a direct, violent approach. Even though Japan was the Enemy, the innocent people that were victims of nuclear radiation were not.

(http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0805228.html)


Important Artwork
Mount Rushmore
This is the largest piece of sculpture in the world. Located in South Dakota, this large sculpture features the faces of four U.S. presidents. They are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum started the project i8n 1927. He worked on it until the very end. His son, Lincoln, finished the sculpture in 1941. I think this monument represents democracy, since presidents of a democratic country are sculpted. I shows that the people in the past worked hard to ensure that today is what it is.

(http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908224.html) (information)
(http://freedom.greatnet.us/images/mountrushmore.jpg) (picture)

Important Book
The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care
This book was written by Dr. Benjamin Spock. It was published in 1946, and it was one of the biggest best sellers of all time. It sold 50 million copies and was translated in 39 different languages. It achieved all this by 1998. Dr. Spock studied Psychoanalysis, which was the study of children's needs and family dynamics. It made the new generation of parents more flexible and affectionate when it came to raising their child. He also made the ideas of discipline i children more strong. This book was important because it was trying to state a revolutionary message, you know more than you think you do, generally towards mothers.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Common_Sense_Book_of_Baby_and_Child_Care) (inforation)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Spock) (information)


Important Scientific Discovery
The Big Bang Theory
In 1948, the Big Bang theory was formulated. Although it was not a discovery, it gives us a reasonable explaination about the creation of the universe. It describes how the universe and its contents were created from nothing. Scientists say that an explosion or a flash caused a process of expansion that occurs even today. It started from matter that had very high density and temperature, then it became a dense globe of gas that contained hydrogen and helium, and then it expanded outwards rapidly. However, there were no stars or planets. It wasn't until the universe was about 200 million years old that the first stars formed. This is important because it represents our nver ending quest for knowledge, and that there is much more we don't know about.

(http://history1900s.about.com/library/time/bltime1940.htm) (information)
(http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004428.html) (information)
(http://www.gosai.com/science/newton/big-bang6-222.jpg) (picture)