Lesson 6 Connection Video

With Lesson 6, we're in the midst of World War II. As you were reading, you probably thought we had secretly transferred you to a World War II history class. But fear not, we're still talking about the history of the oil industry, and that is the main point.
Oil was incredibly influential and impactful to the war. You clearly saw the importance of the "haves" and "have-nots." In other words, who had access to enough oil and who did not affected their strategy during the war.
A great example is the Japanese kamikaze pilot. They have been glorified in movies as intentionally crashing their planes into enemy ships, the last glorious act of a true warrior. While that may have been part of the reason, there was also a much more practical one: it used less fuel if the airplane did not need to return to base after attacking. Sad but true.
Much like conflicts around the world today, the wars in the Pacific and Atlantic were influenced by oil-related challenges. These events help us understand how access to oil can change the course of history.
The United States was in a very strong position throughout the war because it had a secure and accessible supply of oil. We were not only able to meet our own needs, but we were also instrumental in supporting our allies.
But is that still the case today?
Let's talk a bit about access.
Suppose you discover that you've run out of milk. Your immediate plan would be to go to the store and buy more. What matters most to you is being able to afford it and obtain it conveniently. The fact that milk exists somewhere is not particularly relevant unless you can actually get it.
Knowing that milk is stored in a cow is interesting, but unless it is obtained, processed, packaged, and shipped to a store near you, it is not very helpful.
The same is true for oil.
Knowing that there are sources of oil in the ground is not especially useful to those who need it. What matters is the ability to recover it, refine it, transport it, and distribute it in an affordable and reliable way.
In this lesson, we saw the impacts of this accessibility concept, including shortages, usage restrictions, unique transportation methods, and business arrangements designed to enhance supply.
The life lesson from this week's material is the importance of energy independence, especially with regard to oil supply.
Being a net importer and depending on others introduces significant economic and national security risks.
The United States played a significant role in determining the outcome of World War II, and that was due in large part to its energy superiority.
However, as we saw in Lesson 6, while the war was taking place, the Middle East was quietly growing into an oil superpower. Since then, it has often exercised that power.
In the 2020s, we find ourselves increasingly dependent on others for oil and not maximizing the development of our own resources.
These first six lessons have taught us that, throughout history, those who depend on others for oil are often in tenuous positions.
As we watch countries, including the United States, make energy-related decisions, it sometimes appears that we have forgotten the lessons that history has taught us.