Page "History of the United States (1918–1945)" Paragraph 72

Isolationist sentiment with regard to foreign wars in America had ebbed, but the United States at first declined to enter the war, limiting itself to giving supplies and weapons via Lend Lease to Britain, China, and the Soviet Union.

American feeling changed drastically with the sudden Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The U. S. enthusiastically went to war against Japan, Italy, and Nazi Germany.

Italy surrendered in 1943, followed by Germany and Japan in 1945.

The economy doubled and tripled in size as a massive industrial mobilization was accompanied by artificial wage and price controls.

16 million men entered the military ( most were drafted ), in addition to 300, 000 women volunteers.

After a series of defeats inflicted by Japan, the U. S. Navy turned the tide at Midway ( June 1942 ), then inexorably moved toward total destruction of the Japanese military.

After small-scale invasions of North Africa ( 1942 ) and Italy ( 1943 ), the main American effort was a strategic bombing campaign that destroyed the German Luftwaffe, followed by a massive invasion of France in 1944.

American forces met up with Soviet forces marching into Germany from the east in May 1945.

Overall, the entire nation was turned into a vast war machine, affecting society more than any other conflict fought by the United States, except perhaps the Civil War.