Ovadia 1The 1940s The Most Influential Decade of the 20th CenturyDuring the 20th century, the United States grew from a large but simple country to a global power. The United States has participated in many wars, its population has almost doubled, and it has become a leader in global economic industries. The rapid change in the United States lasted several decades (and continues), but of all the decades of the 20th century, one stood out above all others. This decade brought the United States out of the Great Depression, made it one of the most powerful countries in the world, and greatly influenced contemporary America today. This influential decade was the 1940s. The 1940s was the most influential decade in contemporary America because of its enormous influence on civil and military technology, it changed the role of women and African Americans in society and ultimately brought the United States out of isolationism. The most defining decade for contemporary America is that of its enormous influence on technology. During the 1940s, as the United States was drawn into World War II, the government realized that it would need to expand its arsenal in order to defeat its enemies on both fronts. The threat of war caused the United States to develop and build many weapons, including new tanks, rifles, machine guns, artillery, aircraft, and anything else vital to the defeat of the Axis powers. Many civilian industries were converted to military use. For example, aircraft manufacturer Boeing modified its B-17 bomber and later built the B-29 and an automobile manufacturer began creating military vehicles like the Jeep which was considered the...... middle of paper .... ...we will become an isolationist country again and if that happened, the United Nations would have lost its most powerful member. This would have once again led to the possibility of some countries oppressing Ovadia 6 others. The 20th century advanced the United States more than any other century. Its influence spread throughout the world and the country was known as the world's superpower. Of all their decades, the 1940s were particularly extraordinary. During those ten years, the United States advanced technologically like never before, changed the lives of women and African Americans, and moved the country from isolationist to one of the countries most involved in world affairs. If this decade had not been as influential as it was, the United States and indeed the entire world might have behaved very differently..