Essay on Changing Definition of Freedom: WWII to Present

This essay delves into the evolving definition of freedom, tracing its transformation from the World War II era to the present day. It examines the impact of WWII on American society, including economic shifts, labor demands, and the experiences of returning veterans. The essay further explores the expansion of civil rights, the rise of the Cold War and its effects, and the ongoing challenges to freedom in contemporary America. It highlights key historical events, policies like the GI Bill, and social movements that have shaped the concept of freedom. The analysis incorporates primary sources, emphasizing the dynamic nature of freedom and its susceptibility to both progress and setbacks, culminating in a conclusion that emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance of power to preserve freedom. The student draws from various sources to support their arguments, providing a comprehensive overview of the topic.

Running head: CHANGING DEFINITION OF FREEDOM: WORLD WAR II & PRESENT
CHANGING DEFINITION OF FREEDOM: WORLD WAR II & PRESENT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Authors note

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CHANGING DEFINITION OF FREEDOM: WORLD WAR II & PRESENT
This study focuses on the definition of freedom and sheds light on the changing concept
of freedom in the years between World War II and the present times. None of the ideas are as
fundamental as Americans wisdom of themselves as a nation than liberty and freedom, the
documents that trail and reflect historical developments which have structured and restructured
the concept of freedom, including other interrelated concepts of economic change, social protest
and movement, territorial expansion, international involvement and war. The documents in this
volume proposes the manner in which the Freedom of America has transformed and expanded
over years or over time. However it does not only explains about the fact that reminds that the
history of America not just simply a narrative frequent progress in the way of greater freedom
but it presents that freedom is hard to achieve can get reduced over time as well if not managed
properly (Fayer, Flynn & Hampton). The uncertainty of the process of achieving and loosing
freedom over time is the brief of the concept of freedom of America.
It has been evident in the American experiment that it has had gone through both high
and low moments in confirming complete freedom for the citizen of the country. American life
has witnessed virtually in every domain during the entry of United States into World War II.
Men and women of millions in count have entered or joined the military service and experienced
seeing such parts and places of the world, which they never expected to witness otherwise. The
demand of war industries regarding the need of labour, more and more Americans are joining
those industries that caused millions of them to shift where the most amount of defence plants
are located which are largely towards Pacific, Gulf coasts and Atlantics (Shaw, 2016). The
economic condition of the United States has improved and got even better in comparison to any
other country around the world, after the World War II has ended. Almost 300000 combat deaths
has gone through the suffering by Americans has diminished in contrast to any other chief

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belligerent. Right after the war has ended, the economic base that is left after the behind, which
made the American society much more prosperous during the post war years which none could
have expected and dreamt neither prior to the war and nor during the war. Public policies like GI
bills of rights that has been passed during that time, provided financial help for veterans in order
to let them attend their college, to help them to purchase houses and in order to purchase farms.
Such public policies overall influence is merely incalculable; however, it undoubtedly assisted
returning troupers to improve themselves and to start forming or creating families and have
children in unparalleled numbers. Not every American has equal amount of contribution in the
field of expansion of life opportunities and in the increasing economic prosperity (Foner, 2016).
The reality and image of complete economic affluence and the rising movement it provided to
various number of white Americans, was not misplaced on those who had massively been
excepted from the full sense of the American Dream, during both after and before the war. As a
result, groups of Africans Americans, American women and Hispano Americans have become
more violent in the verge of earning their complete freedom and civil rights as the matter that has
been guaranteed by the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence during the era of post
war (Van, Poels & Vandebosch, 2016).
After years of setbacks and struggles, supporters of equality rejoices the passage of
sweeping the legislation that forbids racial discernment. In the year 1963, as the activists of civil
rights were protesting segregation and restricting voting across the South met with aggressive
antagonist, and several people march on the streets of Washington in the verge of demanding
‘Jobs and Freedom’ , since Reconstruction, the first civil rights legislation has been introduced
by president John F. Kennedy. After the assassination of the president J. F. Kennedy in
November, his replacement Lyndon B. Johnson picked up the case, pushing the bill by stiff

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democratic antagonism in Congress. In the year 1964, on June 2nd, L. B. Johnson has signed into
the Civil Rights Act law, which finished the public apartheid as well as many private facilities,
that has outlawed the differentiation between different colours, Race, sex, national origin and
religion. And the notion of freedom during the World War II in comparison with the new time
has changed a quite massively, as the Supreme Court has issued an specific landmark declaring
the Constitutions new decision of assuring the marriages between same sex couple (Oltmann,
2017). However, the Post-World War time has also introduced with several numbers of problems
and issues with it. Flushed with their victory against Japan and Germany in 1945, maximum
Americans originally observed their place during the post-world war era with confidence and
optimism. By the year 1948, a current varied form of tension has emerged internationally, Cold
War, amongst the Soviet Union and the United States and its allies (Green, 2016). The Cold War
has laid many difficulties and tensions among the two of the superpowers from outside and
tensions of Communist rebellions absorbed local politics at home. In the period of twenty years
following the 1945, there was a vast political harmony concerning the Anti-Communism and
Cold-War. Usually there was support of by partition regarding most of the US abroad policy
initiatives. After the US has interfered the Vietnam military in the middle of the year of 1960, as
a result the total political consensus has started to break down. By the year 1968, American has
been debated by the strident, regarding the war of Vietnam, which indicates that the Cold War
accord had been shattered, which is again perhaps beyond repair (Walling, 2015).
Beside all these facts, in recent times the country US is rejoicing a position of unmatched
military strength and boundless political and economic impact. Retaining the principles and
heritage at the same time, America does not use their power to demean or supress for unilateral
profits. Instead, they seek to form a balance of power in terms of favouring the freedom of

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humans. In addition, creating conditions where all countries, societies and communities can
make a choice for themselves freely and challenges and rewards in economic and political
liberty, where people are able to work for the betterment of their own life (Theoharis, &
Woodard, 2016). They took more resolutions which are further beneficial for the mass
population the world, like, in order to fight the terrorism they will defend the peace, they will
start keeping good terms will the supreme powers, they extend the peace making process in order
to encourage free and open societies. Freedom cannot be negotiated or compromised at any cost,
as it is the birth right of every human being all over the world and it is connected to the human
dignity. Looking back to the history, the fact that is massively evident is that the freedom has
always been threatened by terror and fear of war. Freedom has been often challenged by the
inharmonious wills of the countries or states that are in the position of power and are stronger
than other, such countries always tend to take advantage of the weak countries, which has often
led to destruction, poverty, disease and many more negative things, in the past (Phiri, 2015).
Now at present, humanity holds the opportunity to achieve further victory and triumph of
freedom over all these adversaries. The United States of current time invites all these errands to
lead in this inordinate mission. The presence of American militaries abroad is one of the most
insightful symbols of the United States vows to friends and allies, it has always succeeded in
coping up with other issues and maintaining its equilibrium of supremacy at the same time, that
takes the side of the freedom of all humanity (Lambert, 2015). To contend with doubt and to deal
with various security encounters that are being faced, the US will need nations and bases into the
and beyond Northeast Asia and Western Europe, and arrangements of temporary access at the
same time for the US forces long-term deployment. History is the prove that dissuasion can turn
to failure, and it is not possible to deter all enemies (Khan, 2015). However, the country US will

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and should manage the abilities of defeating any effort by an enemy, whether no matter whether
it is their allies or their friends they are will maintain their powers and forces enough in order to
support any obligations, in terms of defending the freedom. Their forces are rigid enough to deter
the capabilities and aids from achieving a force build up in the expectation of surpassing or
equalizing the US powers. However, the concept of freedom is never constant, rather it is the
history of US is, in part, a debatable story, disagreements, struggles over freedom (Dilks, 2014).
Hence, in conclusion it is safe to state that the notion or the concept of freedom is
uncertain, as it can rise and fall at the same time if not maintained and balanced properly. The
balance of power is the key to maintain the moderate level of freedom. In terms of the American
freedom is concerned, it has gone through a long process in order to achieve and maintain its
freedom and strengthen its power. The documents observation and reflection states the kinds of
historical expansion requires shaping and reshaping the idea of freedom.

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References:
Dilks, S. (2014). Voices out of the Air: Freedom, Death, and Constraint in All That Fall.
In Samuel Beckett (pp. 99-128). Routledge.
Fayer, S., Flynn, S., & Hampton, H. Voices of freedom.
Foner, E. (2016). Give Me Liberty! An American History: One Volume. WW Norton &
Company.
GREEN, K. L. (2016). Black “Youth Speak Truth” to Power: Literacy for Freedom,
Community Radio, and Civic Engagement. In Youth Voices, Public Spaces, and
Civic Engagement (pp. 201-221). Routledge.
Khan, I. A. (2015). Initiative in the Novel Voices in the City of Anita Desai: Freedom in
Life. English Language and Literature Studies, 5(1), 42.
LAMBERT, A. (2015). CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: Voices of Resistance: Positioning
Steiner Education as a Living Expression of Freire's Pedagogy of Freedom.
Counterpoints, 500, 409-430.
Oltmann, S. (2017). Creating space at the table: Intellectual freedom can bolster diverse
voices. The Library Quarterly, 87(4), 410-418.
Phiri, V. C. (2015). “Stand and Sing of Zambia” i: Voices from Freedom Struggle
Heroines. JENdA: A Journal of Culture and African Women Studies, (26).
Shaw, S. Voices of freedom: friendship, trust and liberation in the poems of early
Buddhist nuns.

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Theoharis, J., & Woodard, K. (Eds.). (2016). Freedom North: Black freedom struggles
outside the South, 1940-1980. Springer.
Van Royen, K., Poels, K., & Vandebosch, H. (2016). Harmonizing freedom and
protection: Adolescents' voices on automatic monitoring of social networking
sites. Children and Youth Services Review, 64, 35-41.
Walling, M. G. (2015). Enduring Freedom, Enduring Voices: US Operations in
Afghanistan. Bloomsbury Publishing.