Wartime America

by John W. Jeffries

In this new and cogent history of America during World War II, John Jeffries suggests that our view of the war has been shaped by two widely accepted perspectives: as a "Good War" of national unity, virtue, and success; and as a "watershed" or turning point in the nation's history, marking fundamental change. Searching for the reality of experience behind these catchphrases, Mr. Jeffries discovers a richer and more varied portrait of America at war, one that defies easy interpretation. If great changes came to American life, they were not necessarily brought by the war; often the war simply continued or accelerated a trend that had been under way. If the struggle seemed to be one of common cause, the fact is that many Americans experienced social tensions and even conflict on the home front.