The way Non-Government Advertising shaped American Beliefs.
In his book “The Best War ever” Michael C.C. Adams made an attempt to discredit a number of misleading notions about World War II. It flows out from the title, that American nation was of favorable opinion about its performance during uneasy and violent wartime. The government intended to form the public view about the war. Americans were content and satisfied with the results of the five-year lasting period of intense battles and struggles. And this perception of war reality did not always coincide with the true events, which have taken place at battlefields.
Such a fraudulent impression was grounded on a number of significant reasons. First of all, the warfare was deployed overseas, and the peaceful citizens of the United States did not witness the continuous severe battles. Also, due to excessive government intervention the perception of warfare was slightly misinterpreted by ordinary Americans. Hollywood as well intended to support government propaganda about the heroic presentation of war reality. Instead of revealing bloody and harrowing truth about the wartime, it portrayed integrity and honor, as if the war was full of just heroic deeds and courageous actions. The economic rise and prosperity also made a significant contribution to the general picture of success. The economic rise inspired people, and urged them for further achievements. The hardships and difficulties of war did not adversely effect ordinary U.S. citizens in everyday life. They did not suffer privations, connected with declining economic conditions. On the contrary, the U.S. residents were encouraged by the speed of economic growth.
Even nowadays, the witnesses of World War II, are considered to have revealed the highest standards of morality. They are believed to show the necessary unity of nation that contributed to the common victory. It is of high value that American nation during the wartime managed to ignore all the differences, and joined forces for the common priority. As Michael C.C. Adams describes in his book, “there were no ethnic or gender problems, families were happy and united, and children worked hard in school and read a great number of books” (p.115)
As for the U.S. Army, the government influenced the public opinion. Due to the government the army was considered to be well-managed, mighty and strong with high moral principles. When American soldiers were murdered they died “an antiseptic, clean, neat way . . . gloriously” (p. 100).
Finally, the American government played a significant role in shaping the public opinion about the war, but this implanted idea did not always reflect the true picture.
Bibliography
1.	Adams, Michael C.C. The Best War Ever: America and World War II. Johns Hopkins University Press. 1994.