| | 1 | Author: | University of Virginia.
Library | Add | | | Title: | Twelfth annual report on historical collections, University of Virginia Library, for the year 1941-42  | | | | Published: | 2006 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | SINCE the preceding report in this series was published, the
United States has become a belligerent in the Second World
War. The general recognition of Sunday, December 7, 1941,
as a memorable date in American history was confirmed by the
President of the United States the following day in his message
to Congress. The formal declaration of war by Congress followed
promptly in half an hour. Living, like many earlier neutrals,
in a fool's paradise, the American people were rudely awakened
from their delusion of peaceful escape from a world at war. The
true significance of the much used term "total war," however, was
not readily understood. That lesson was to be learned partially
during the series of defeats in the first six months of belligerency,
until the marshalling of our resources and power could begin to
bear weight against the enemy. The Japanese attack ended
abruptly the period of disunity and false security. Whatever
followed was "after Pearl Harbor." | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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