The 1940s was a decade in which we learned that “Freedom isn’t Free.” Not only did the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor in 1941, but the United States also entered WWII and by the end of the war became the most powerful nation in the world.

The citizens of the U.S. pulled together to help their fellow nations at war. Many boys lied about their age just to help their country in the war effort. The civil rights movement had its beginnings in the 40s and it would change the U.S. forever. The first black professional baseball player was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Big bands dominated the radio with legends such as Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra filling homes. Alongside them were performers such as Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dizzie Gillespie. The 1940s was a time of growth and learning for the U.S. It was a decade that will forever be remembered for bringing great change to our way of life.