American History by Decade The 1940s Author:Don Nardo In this pivotal decade, the United States underwent the ordeal of total war as it entered and won World War II. The conflict ended with the dawn of the atomic age and the last years of the decade witnessed the stirrings of the Cold War. Meanwhile, popular music, including the big band craze, and the advent of television supplied a needed distr... more »action to increasing numbers of people.« less