Washington: Countries and political experts around the world are keeping an eye on the elections taking place in America. The reason for this is that the post of American President is considered to be the most powerful post in the world. America is also considered to be the most powerful country on earth at present. How did America reach such a position that it was successful in becoming the ‘boss’ of the world? The story of America achieving this power is long, fascinating and complex. For this one has to know the history of the last three hundred and fifty years.
America begins to grow bigger
Vox’s report says that a major reason for America’s strength is its size. America is among the largest countries on earth in terms of population and area. The US is rich in natural resources and human capital and in many ways is an island nation, as it faces no major threats on its borders. In such a situation, it is more free to display power at the global level. The reason for this large size comes from the war that took place after 1750.
To know the current situation of America, we can start by going back about three hundred years, between 1754 and 1763. The war that took place during this period opened the way for the expansion of North America. This war ended when France ceded its vast territory on the continent to Britain and Spain. The subsequent fall of New France and the Spanish Empire left the entire continent open to the British Empire and the Americas.
Early American expansionism
North America was not empty when European explorers arrived. It was full of diverse societies. All of them would have become sovereign nation-states had the US not launched campaigns to drive them from their lands and forcibly annex their lands. These expansionisms are the foundation on which American dominance of North America, and thus American global power, was built.
In the year 1794, the work of capturing the land of Native Americans started and their land was taken away piece by piece. When the US passed the Dawes Act in 1887, effectively ending tribal self-governance and forcing assimilation, the local tribes were left with very little land.
Another war and the land of Mexico
The United States received large swathes of Spanish-claimed land from present-day Texas to Northern California following Mexico’s independence in 1821. American communities grew in these areas and by 1829 they outnumbered Spanish speakers in the Texas region of Mexico. In 1835 these American settlers rebelled and established the Republic of Texas. After this, it voluntarily merged with America in 1845.
After this, border dispute started between Mexico and America. In the year 1846, the war started over the disputed Texas territory. The US invaded Mexico City and annexed one-third of Mexico’s territory, including what is now California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. If these wars had not happened, perhaps today America would have been a small country and there would have been no Pacific coast. This would have made him less powerful globally and in the Pacific region.
America choosing to become a European-style power
The real moment of America becoming a global power was the war with Spain. The Spanish Empire had been collapsing for a century and there was a fierce debate within the Americas over whether the United States should become an imperial power to take its place. It focused on Cuba. In 1898, Cuban workers began a fight for independence from Spain and the United States intervened on their behalf.
This war ended with Spain’s defeat, so American anti-imperialists stopped America from occupying Cuba. The war also ended with the U.S. occupation of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, a vast and populous island nation in the Pacific. What happened was that America became a European-style imperial power. This marked the beginning of America’s role as a major global power.
Colonialism and Hawaii in the Pacific
The story of America’s influence in the Pacific began in Hawaii, which was then an independent nation. American businessmen seized power in the coup of 1893 and asked the United States to take it over. President Cleveland refused to conquer any other nation.
When William McKinley took office in America, he agreed to this. This was the first of many Pacific acquisitions. Japan also joined the race to the Pacific and captured several European-occupied islands. This happened before America entered World War II.
World War I and America
The world was divided between several competing global powers for centuries. No country expected to become the sole global superpower in such a system. World War I was the beginning of the end of that era. The Ottoman Empire was completely destroyed in the war. The destruction of war devastated the great powers on a large scale. Only America and Britain could escape from this.
It is impossible to fully characterize the damage caused by the Second World War after the First, but it is clear that it was very costly. The impact of the war was felt by Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union, China, Eastern Europe and other countries in East Asia. On one hand the countries suffered losses and on the other hand America came out of the war much more powerful.
European colonialism collapsed, not American
Within a few years of the Second World War, the centuries-old project of European colonialism completely collapsed. Behind this were the freedom movements of Africa and Asia on one side and the Suez Crisis of 1956 on the other. This led to a feeling that the new world order would no longer tolerate colonialism. This was such a situation that there were two huge land empires left in the world – America and the Soviet Union.
After the world wars and the end of colonialism, the global system was reduced to two powers instead of many competing powers, these were America and the Soviet Union. The ideologies of both were competing and there was deep distrust between them. Although the threat of nuclear weapons prevented them from fighting directly, the United States and the Soviet Union competed for global influence.
America and Soviet conflict
In the global conflict, the Americans and Soviets played a role in coups around the world, supported rebellions, supported dictators, and participated in proxy wars in every corner of the world. Both created systems of alliances, offshore bases, and powerful armies. This gave them an opportunity to showcase their power across the world.
In the year 1971, the deadlock between America and the Soviet Union became very clear. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Ronald Reagan ran for president in the subsequent US elections. He promised to defeat the Soviet Union in the elections. When the Soviet Union broke up, there was no challenge left for America’s military and diplomatic power.
Europe coming under US dominated NATO
In 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded Berlin from West Germany. The following year, the powers of Western Europe agreed to sign the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) along with the United States and Canada. It expanded during the Cold War to include almost every European country. All this happened under the leadership of its most powerful member i.e. America.
NATO expanded even after the Cold War ended. The organization gained new members in Central and Eastern Europe. NATO ensures the stability of Europe and the security of its members, but the reality is that the nations of Europe are now dependent on American power. Even South Korea and Japan are linked to the US through security agreements and US military bases.
America’s huge budget on defense
One way to understand America’s position as the sole global superpower is its military budget. America’s military budget in 2023 was more than $600 billion. It also reflects America’s role as the guarantor of global security and international order. As such, since 1979 the US has made it official military policy to protect oil shipments from the Persian Gulf.
America is powerful because of its size, its military power and its global system of alliances and bases. These are certainly important but they alone do not make it a superpower. America also has a tremendous lead in scientific research, which further enhances its technological and economic edge over the rest of the world.
research in usa
America’s contribution in the field of science and research can be seen from the fact that America has had a tremendous lead in Nobel Prizes from 1901 to 2013. America has won 371 Nobel Prizes and most of them are in science. America has 4 percent of the world’s population but its number of Nobel Prize winners is 34 percent.
Time.news Interview: The Evolution of America as a Global Power
Editor: Good afternoon, and welcome to Time.news. Today, we have a distinguished guest with us, Dr. Emily Carter, a historian and political expert who specializes in American history and international relations. With the upcoming elections in the United States garnering global attention, we’re here to discuss how America achieved its current status as one of the most powerful nations on the planet. Dr. Carter, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Editor: To start, could you provide an overview of how the United States rose to such a position of power in the world?
Dr. Carter: Absolutely. The United States’ journey to global dominance is deeply rooted in its history, starting around 350 years ago. A significant turning point was the territorial expansion that began after the French and Indian War (1754-1763), which allowed Britain to consolidate power over North America. This laid the groundwork for the eventual rise of the U.S. as a major power.
Editor: Interesting! You mentioned the impact of the French and Indian War. How did this conflict specifically contribute to America’s expansion?
Dr. Carter: The war essentially shifted the balance of power in North America. When France ceded its territories to Britain, it left the continent wide open. The British colonies could then expand without the looming threat of French military might. This expansionist trend continued with the capture of Native American lands through various means, including treaties undermined by military force.
Editor: And that leads us to a tumultuous chapter in American history involving Native Americans. Can you elaborate on that?
Dr. Carter: Certainly. Beginning in 1794 and continuing through the Dawes Act of 1887, the U.S. government systematically dismantled Native American societies and claimed vast swathes of their territory for itself. This aggressive expansion was crucial in establishing the United States as the foremost power on the continent and beyond.
Editor: Shifting gears a bit, let’s discuss America’s relationship with Mexico. The annexation of Mexican territories was a significant event, wasn’t it?
Dr. Carter: Yes, the wars with Mexico in the mid-1800s were pivotal. After the U.S. declared war over border disputes, it ended up annexing nearly one-third of Mexico’s territory, including present-day California, Arizona, and Texas. Had these conflicts not occurred, the United States would be a very different—and likely much smaller—nation.
Editor: You also mentioned the war with Spain as a turning point for America. How did that war shape American imperialism?
Dr. Carter: The Spanish-American War in 1898 is often viewed as the moment the U.S. stepped onto the world stage as an imperial power. Following the defeat of Spain, the U.S. occupied territories like Puerto Rico and the Philippines, adopting a more aggressive stance in international affairs. This was a crucial shift in America’s identity from an emerging power to an established global force.
Editor: How did two World Wars impact America’s position among global powers?
Dr. Carter: World War I and World War II were both transformational for the U.S. After World War I, America emerged relatively unscathed while many European powers were devastated. The Second World War further cemented this position; the destruction of the Axis powers left America as a preeminent power, leading to a post-war order dominated by U.S. interests.
Editor: Following the wars, the landscape of global power shifted again with the rise of the Soviet Union. How did that rivalry shape America’s foreign policy?
Dr. Carter: The Cold War created a climate of intense competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Both superpowers engaged in proxy wars and formed extensive alliances, spreading their influence around the globe. This period was marked by a commitment to counter Soviet expansion, which effectively reinforced America’s military and political presence worldwide.
Editor: And what about NATO’s establishment in 1949? What role did it play in consolidating American power in Europe?
Dr. Carter: NATO was a strategic alliance created in direct response to Soviet aggression. It not only solidified America’s military presence in Europe but also established a framework for collective defense. This important political and military alliance helped to keep Western Europe aligned with U.S. interests during the Cold War and continues to shape transatlantic relations today.
Editor: As we look towards the future and the current elections, do you believe America’s position as a world leader will evolve further?
Dr. Carter: It’s possible. As global dynamics shift with the rise of other powers like China, America’s role may change, yet its historical foundations of power—military strength, economic clout, and cultural influence—will likely remain significant. It’s critical for the next generation of leaders to navigate these complexities carefully.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Carter, for this insightful discussion. It’s clear that America’s rise to power is a multifaceted narrative shaped by historical events, expansion, and international relations. We appreciate you sharing your expertise with us today.
Dr. Carter: It was my pleasure. Thank you for having me.