Ch. 20: World Wars

Is it more useful to view the two world wars as separate and distinct conflicts or as a single briefly interrupted phenomenon?

I think the world wars should be viewed as two separate but consecutive conflicts as one led to the next.  The World Wars gave way to the United States to becoming a powerful military force and emerging as a global superpower.  The first World War was a test of military might, creating an allegiance, and obtaining territorial gain.  The second World War was about fighting together for a greater cause of combating tyranny, creating allies, and building a new world.  World War I was the "Great War", which started as a European civil war that reached a global scale with the beginnings of world communism and the U.S. entering the war.  The great depression, rise of Nazi Germany under the infamous rule of Hitler with the horrific Holocaust, and destruction (like the bombing of Pearl Harbor) all over the world highlighting the causes in/to World War II.  The biggest events after WWI were: the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I, but around 1919 was the founding of the Nazi Party where about 1933 Hitler takes over Germany as the ruler; League of nations was trying to be established but was only seen as hope of peace for international order which was not deemed worthy to pursue; Mussolini takes charge in Italy in 1922.  More political practices surfaced such as fascism which threatened communism, liberalism, individualism, feminism, democracy and more which became movements leading to civil wars especially throughout Europe.  The events that led to World War II was the invasions from Japan with China and Germany invading Poland then the attack on Pearl Harbor which led to atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki then created the United Nations.  All of these wars led to another as it seemed like a cycle of never ending shifts of power, occupying land, and taking over control of whatever else is needed.  War is always something talked about in history as the stories told of the past still connect with the present.  The Cold War, Vietnam, Iraq, etc have all been recent wars with their own causes, reactions, points, and/or any other reason for why they happened.  All I know is that many people have lost their lives.  I for one have had many family members take part in wars from World War II til recent military events.  We all want peace, but there will always be something that someone out there wants that is willing to take risks and become an influence to those that want to believe in a change.  We are all humans and we are emotional beings.  Talking about wars, constant violence that contributes to these radical motives, and wanting whats best is just a whole other talk.  I hope for real freedom, peace, and equality for all one day... hopefully in my life time.

I wanted to take this time to salute my family who are retired/active military that continue to serve/served our country and risk/ed their lives for the betterment of us civilians in the U.S. but also a chance to give our family a better life.  Thank you!