Ryan Reeder
Mark Grandstaff
History 121
11-11-1999
Chapter 1: Mythmaking and the War
1. The main purpose of the chapter is to dispel the myth of a glamorous, sanitized World War II by showing where that myth originated.
2. The key questions are What is the source of our images of World War II? How have these illusions damaged society? How did these views contrast with reality?
3. The most important information in this chapter is the media-Hollywood, movies, commercials, TV, radio, newspapers and books-all sanitized the images of World War II turning it into a sanitized, moral, wonderful war.
4. The main conclusions in this chapter are World War II was not a good war; it was just as terrible a war as Vietnam or any other war. The media is largely responsible for the perpetuation of this myth.
5. The key concept(s) we need to understand this chapter is (are) A general background of the popular consciousness of World War II, a general awareness of the media of the time and following-Bob Hope, John Wayne, South Pacific, and later events such as Vietnam and the Reagan-Bush era.
6. The main assumption(s) underlying the author's thinking is (are) this media constructed image is bad, wrong, even harmful. Not a lot of respect for Reagan, Wayne, or any others who in any way were responsible for this thinking. It's almost as if he felt a personal vendetta against them for the death of his father and namesake-he laces all descriptions of these things with sarcasm and negative undertones.
7. If people take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are they would stop smiling. They would start to do a 180º turn from the glamor and focus solely on the bad, ignoring the good because of its past neglect.
-If people fail to take this line of thinking seriously, the implications are they would be like the letter writers he describes, comfortable in their own artificial worlds of partial reality, ignoring all realities of the horrors of life and resenting their intrusion.
8. The main point(s) of view and biases presented in this chapter (are) War is bad. The media created our image of World War II. They should be held responsible for it. A hatred for the war that took his father's life.
9. Summarize the thesis of the article in 2-3 sentences maximum. The popular image of World War II is a false one. It was created by the media of the time and has been perpetuated by the media and filtered by the current events into our own day.
Chapter 2: No Easy Answers
1. The main purpose of the chapter is to analyze the events leading up to World War II; dispelling the simplified version of its cause.
2. The key questions are What made Japan, Italy and Germany into aggressors? Why didn't the West respond sooner?
3. The most important information in this chapter is showing events going back to the French Revolution of what caused World War II.
4. The main conclusions in this chapter are there are no easy answers-appeasement didn't work for Germany; deterrence didn't work for Japan.
5. The key concept(s) we need to understand this chapter is (are) a basic understanding of modern world history.
6. The main assumption(s) underlying the author's thinking is (are) the common notions of what caused World War II are far too simplistic.
7. If people take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are they might understand why the world powers as they did, rather than simply writing them off as madmen and aggressors.
-If people fail to take this line of thinking seriously, the implications are their view of world history would be far too narrow.
8. The main point(s) of view and biases presented in this chapter (are) the major world players of the time were composed of actual, imperfect human beings, all acting in human ways.
9. Summarize the thesis of the article in 2-3 sentences maximum. The "folklore version" of World War II is far too simplistic. Various social and political factors extending back over 150 years led to what happened.
Chapter 3: The Patterns of War, 1939-1945
1. The main purpose of the chapter is to present the events of World War II from the American perspective.
2. The key questions are What really happened during World War II? What was the need for the various events of World War II such as the atom bomb, island hopping, D-Day, etc? What were the main strategies of World War II?
3. The most important information in this chapter is a fairly detailed outline of the various events of World War II.
4. The main conclusions in this chapter are much human, historical and environmental destruction were caused by both sides during World War II. Technology played a key role in the war.
5. The key concept(s) we need to understand this chapter is (are) a fairly good idea of world geography, and a good ability to follow military history.
6. The main assumption(s) underlying the author's thinking is (are) There were many reasons for the various policies and decisions enacted during World War II. A simplistic model is insufficient to really understand what happened.
7. If people take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are they would understand the whys and hows of the events of World War II.
-If people fail to take this line of thinking seriously, the implications are World War II will seem rather vague.
8. The main point(s) of view and biases presented in this chapter (are) an attempt to understand the psychological motivations for what happened, regret for the loss of human life and the environmental cost, and that war consists of killing and, while at times necessary, is not good.
9. Summarize the thesis of the article in 2-3 sentences maximum. World War II took place in the Pacific and Europe with various campaigns engaged in order to obtain victory.
Chapter 4: The American War Machine
1. The main purpose of the chapter is to show the effect that the American war effort had on World War II. Also, to dispel the idea that everything among the troops was hunky-dory.
2. The key questions are What was the effect of the U.S. in World War II? How were minorities treated in the military? How did the American war machine work?
3. The most important information in this chapter is statistics on the real impact of America in World War II and the treatment of blacks, Indians, minority groups, women, and homosexuals in the military.
4. The main conclusions in this chapter are "the achievement of the American war machine was remarkable. . .but. . . not the only factor in Allied victory." (90) Also, that the system was not free from prejudice and discrimination, and thus, we shouldn't judge our modern efforts by a false ideal. There was a lot of bureaucracy and inefficiency in the American system.
5. The key concept(s) we need to understand this chapter is (are) the basic structure of the military and the issues surrounding the historical discrimination toward minorities.
6. The main assumption(s) underlying the author's thinking is (are) war is bad, even when it is necessary, as World War II was. There are many myths surrounding World War II.
7. If people take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are that they won't believe much of the heroic fiction surrounding World War II.
-If people fail to take this line of thinking seriously, the implications are that they will look to the past as a golden era, and consider ourselves inferior to the glory days of the past.
8. The main point(s) of view and biases presented in this chapter (are) "war is inherently destructive-wasteful of human and natural resources, disruptive of normal social development" (90). The many myths surrounding World War II should be dispelled.
9. Summarize the thesis of the article in 2-3 sentences maximum. While the effect of the U.S. in World War II was decisive in winning the war, the American system, flawed by prejudice, discrimination, and inefficiency, was not perfect.
Chapter 5: Overseas
1. The main purpose of the chapter is to describe the horrors of combat in World War II.
2. The key questions are What caused men to break down? What did the soldiers in combat see?
3. The most important information in this chapter is graphic descriptions of various grotesque deaths, and the reactions these created upon the men that witnessed them.
4. The main conclusions in this chapter are war is horrible, especially for those on the front lines, actually in combat.
5. The key concept(s) we need to understand this chapter is (are) an understanding of what it means to be human, and a realization of the contrasts that the soldiers in World War II endured when separated from humanity.
6. The main assumption(s) underlying the author's thinking is (are) rational, civilized man does not act in these ways. Something must have caused them to perform in this way.
7. If people take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are the horrors of what really goes on will act as a deterrence to war.
-If people fail to take this line of thinking seriously, the implications are we would compartmentalize, deny, belittle, or in some other means find a method to cope with and ignore the atrocities of war.
8. The main point(s) of view and biases presented in this chapter (are) war is a bad thing. Attempts to graphically sicken people may result in their avoidance of war.
9. Summarize the thesis of the article in 2-3 sentences maximum. After witnessing the horrors and carnage of combat in World War II, a large percentage of soldiers went insane.
Chapter 6: Home Front Change
1. The main purpose of the chapter is to show the changes that came about in American society during the war years.
2. The key questions are What was the role of women in the workforce? How were teenagers' lives changed? How did World War II help shape the formation of a modern consumer society?
3. The most important information in this chapter is a discussion on the changing roles of women and juveniles in American society.
4. The main conclusions in this chapter are modern society has its roots in the changes in the home front caused by World War II. The war also brought great prosperity to America.
5. The key concept(s) we need to understand this chapter is (are) what modern American society is like; the effects of the Great Depression.
6. The main assumption(s) underlying the author's thinking is (are) There are myths on all fronts surrounding World War II. Some of them have a lot of truth in them.
7. If people take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are an understanding of a good hypothesis for the origins of modern American society.
-If people fail to take this line of thinking seriously, the implications are that they would have a naive conception of the events during and after World War II on the home front.
8. The main point(s) of view and biases presented in this chapter (are) life for civilians in the U.S. was far better than it was for their soldiers or civilians of other countries.
9. Summarize the thesis of the article in 2-3 sentences maximum. The events of World War II helped America overcome the effects of the Great Depression and thrust her forward into the postwar era.
Chapter 7: A New World
1. The main purpose of the chapter is to show the results of the war in the following years.
2. The key questions are What were the political consequences of World War II? How was racism justified in America, with regards to Nazi atrocities? How did veterans readjust to society?
3. The most important information in this chapter is showing that not everybody came home to a happy, peaceful, well-adjusted life after the war.
4. The main conclusions in this chapter are the consequences of World War II have helped propagate a myth about its being "the best war ever." In reality, this myth can be dangerous.
5. The key concept(s) we need to understand this chapter is (are) a basic knowledge of postwar history.
6. The main assumption(s) underlying the author's thinking is (are) there are myths to be dispelled. There is an obligation to present the truth as it really was.
7. If people take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are they will believe that the results in world politics, national unity, and women's and minorities' issues are as Adams presents.
-If people fail to take this line of thinking seriously, the implications are they might believe the idealized view, that all the soldiers came home well-adjusted to happy family lives.
8. The main point(s) of view and biases presented in this chapter (are) various groups in society had to learn to live with each other; this didn't always happen.
9. Summarize the thesis of the article in 2-3 sentences maximum. While a great evil, fascism and Nazism, had been overcome, many other problems existed at home and abroad. Finding solutions to these problems still goes on today.