A great number of changes, both positive and negative, arose as a result of World War II. Based on the facts from documents 1-17, however, it appears that that negative changes far outweigh the positive results within the post World War II time-frame. This essay will focus on such effects including the Cold War, the increasing use of weapons of mass destruction, the role of women, the population explosion. .
One of the positive outcomes of the Second World War was the increase in life expectancy in most countries. With the greater knowledge of insecticides, antibiotics, immunizations, environmental sanitation, and vaccinations more people have become immune to diseases that once wiped out entire civilizations. The life expectancy has also risen due to better agricultural technology, leading to a larger amount of food. Therefore most of the poorer people (peasants) are fed (Doc.3). These reasons are also what led to the population explosion (Doc.5). It can be said that the population explosion had a positive impact for those living in rural areas. The more children in the family, the more hands there were to help out with farm duties.
Another positive change resulting from the war was the change in the role of women. After a few years of unsteady gains and losses, their role in society began to increase gradually. Women gained access to jobs that were previously considered a "man's job" since they performed these jobs during the chaos of WWII. A greater number of women entered clerical fields and factory jobs. They were also able to get a better education, work for personal or family income, for personal fulfillment, or to afford consumer goods. Although it was a struggle, women were finally given the right to vote and get a divorce if they sought to do so (Doc.2).
There have been more negative consequences then positive as a result of World War II. The dominant negative effect would be The Cold War.
