Uprise Of The 1940s

The Uprise of The 1940s

With a tornado, a calm before the storm is always present. Warning signs are shown with a rush of winds and a pick up of debris, but no one thinks to worry about it. When the tornado hits, people are in shock, but most still expect it. The 1940s experienced its own tornado, the U.S coming out of a major economic depression, then getting hit and sucked into another downfall of war. Not only did the 1940s hit a downfall with war and the people within the war, but also had an uprising with, day to day activities. The 1940s is a time of highs and lows of American Spirit, from pastimes like the Marvel Comics to the women and codebreakers who helped in the war.

The Marvel Comics is established in 1939, but the company does

Even sidekicks that are created by Marvel, show an importance to the American eye. Bucky Barnes, represents the American sidekick, a teenager who is put into the draft during the war and is best friends with Captain America (Kelley 8). This character represents a real life soldier who is fighting in this war, and a young man who is drafted into the war (Kelley 8). Other characters that show American nationalism and fight in the war are, Sub-Mariner and Human Torch who fight the German army and air force (Wright). This comic book company is the first company to ever produce ‘anti-Nazi’ stories during the high of the war (Wright). The Marvel Comics do not only show war superheroes, but also make story lines as a distraction to the war. During the war, soldiers need a way of comfort overseas besides letters from loved ones. The Marvel Comics make stories that represent the American values that the soldiers are fighting for (Kelley 8). Marvel consequently made a negative impact on immigrant Americans as well. The main creators of the 1940s comics- Joe Simon and Jack Kirby show the different standpoints in culture and race in America. But, these standpoints are shown in negative ways that target Japanese Americans

Japanese code is put into use to tell the Axis powers the next battle plan, whether it is on land, sea, or sky. The Japanese code machine is what is in use to give these messages. Giving them advantage points in the war, but in 1941 a staff of code breakers under the rule of William Friedman creates an almost replica of the Japanese code machine, this machine receives the code name ‘Purple Machine’ (Chiles). With the help of this almost replica, the American team of codebreakers crack the code in May 1942 and give it the nickname, ‘Magic’ (Chiles). ‘Magic’ is first put into use in the ‘Battle of Midway’, when the Japanese forward an attack in the Pacific. But, a deciphered message that the American Allies receive gives an advantage to the Allies, and this leads to a victory in the Pacific (Chiles). Even after this attack the Japanese did not change the way they do coding for the rest of the war, allowing the U.S to continue to decrypt Japanese Messages (O’Neal). Decoding Purple allows the U.S government to learn about Japan signing off peace negotiations with the ‘Treaty of Versailles’, and ultimately going against the League of Nations. All of these events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor (Sturgeon 117). The ‘Battle of Midway’ is not the only battle in which code breaking gives an advantage. The ‘Battle of The