World War II was far and away the most devastating event in recorded history.  Anywhere from 70 to 100 million people died, the largest mass genocide ever took place, and the world was introduced to a terrifying new weapon that had the potential to wipe out all human life.  It was truly a global conflict, the consequences of which are still unfolding.

     For the United States, it signaled the end of isolation and the dawn of being a world-wide leader in politics, technology, and military prowess.  WWII melded into the Cold War, which defined the second half of the 20th Century for the United States and the world.  The war also caused tremendous internal changes for the U.S. socially and culturally.