Secession

The United States emerged from World War II (WW II) as the strongest military and economic power on the face of the earth, Its mighty industrial base facilitated the country to produce the necessary weapons to defeat the enemy forces consisting primarily of Germany and Japan. The nation's natural resources coupled with its industrial capacity provided its fighting forces with the necessary tools to win the war.

The nation mobilized quickly after its entry into the war following the attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Shortly after, Germany declared war on the United States. The country united against the common enemy. Even during this period, there did exist major differences among various groups in the United States, for the most part, these diverse groups concentrated on the immediate problem facing the nation, i.e., to win the war.

Racial discrimination was still very strong throughout the land. Ironically it even existed within the nation's military forces during the war. The African-American troops were organized and trained separately. The cities and towns near military posts maintained segregated facilities. Restaurants, toilets, drinking water fountains, public transportation, and housing were racially segregated during and following WW II.

Racial, religious, and ethnic prejudice was not unknown. Sexual discrimination existed in the academic and work places. These prejudices took various forms. Job assignments, pay, promotions, and many occupations had built in barriers. Initially, the war did little to change these conditions. However, some subtle changes did began to take place as the war progressed and the demands of the military services began to deplete the nation's available manpower resources. Due to the labor shortages caused by the build up of the armed forces, many job opportunities were opened to African-Americans and women that were formerly unavailable. As WW II progressed, war production was the top priority. The immediate and common goal of the nation was to win the war. In order to do so, it was mandatory that the nation utilize all of its available manpower resources effectively. The production of war materials and services would take preference over discrimination practices. The United States could not afford to allow any existing prejudices to interrupt its war effort.

During the later part of the 20th century, legal actions and boycotts resulted in Federal laws that prohibited discrimination due to race, sex, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

The passing of Federal laws did not totally remove discrimination from the American scene. There was little doubt that the laws did assist in decreasing discrimination in the land. There would remain many Americans who would not abide by the laws of the land. There were many who would call themselves religious but who in fact would not honor the decisions of the country's Supreme Court.

The post WW II era brought economic growth to the United States. The threat from the Soviet Union was the sole major international trial facing the United States in the immediate post WW II years. The disintegration of the Soviet Union in the late 1980's eliminated any serious external pressures on the country. Yes, there were a few relatively minor challenges from various parts of the world. The United Nations (UN), established after WW II, attempted to police the world and prevent a repetition of WW II.

The Middle East was always a potentially explosive area that required the United States and the United Nations to monitor that part of the world via satellites and other means. The United States military forces were always present and on the alert to combat any serious disruption to the world's major oil supplies. The constant threat of Iran and Iraq to produce biological and nuclear weapons posed a significant challenge to the world.

The African continent had its own problems involving tribal and class warfare. The desire for power and control of the various regions necessitated the United Nations to provide constant surveillance and policing of the continent. Hundreds of thousands of Africans perished due to tribal and religious rivalries. If the continent could ever live in peace and form a united front, it would save millions of lives, improve the continent's economy, and raise the standard of living of all its people.

Central and South America had their difficulties. The proximity to the United States permitted economic growth in both areas. Some American businesses relocated their production facilities to the southern States, for example, Alabama, South and North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, to take advantage of the lower labor costs. The fact that these were also "right to work" states was also a main attraction. However, many businesses then moved their activities to Central and South America where the wages were only a fraction of those paid in the United States, even in the southern States. This relocation of American businesses to that region did improve the living standards of many in Central and South America. The nation that benefited the most was Mexico. However, the problems associated with the drug cartels and corruption in the governments of Central and South America continued to require the attention of not only the United States but of European countries who were also attempting to establish business activities in those areas. Political corruption and drug trafficking would continue to restrain the area for many years into the future.