How did America become a superpower?
First off this is a serious question, not just a jibe at George Bush or Americans in general. I'm interested in peoples views.
Personally I think it had a lot to do with WW2, of which, economically America was the only real winner, but what do other people think. Is it all down to great leadership, is it because of the large population or were there other factors at work?
Anyway, discuss.
We're a superpower? When the hell did that happen? o___O
Yeah I deifinitely think WW2 did a great deal in us getting to our 'status' in the world...you know, between dropping that bomb and a few other things. That bomb definitely changed our fate.
I don't think our 'population' is big at all, and even if it was that would have nothing to do with it, seeing as India and China have like a combined 3 billion or so people.
But yeah...I definitely think we're moving toward...disaster as a nation. I think I'll move to Canadia with GG. :\
I like Kung-Fu.
It was partly WWII. The rest was the we were the first to successfully build and test nuclear weapons, and were the only ones to have them for three years. If I remember rightly "superpower" is just short for "nuclear superpower."
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<b>Don't insult other members. ~Yamaneko</b>We're a superpower? When the hell did that happen? o___O
It was WW2 then the Cold War what done it.
I personaly believe that it was the fact that people settled on land that was very big very fertile and had next to no farmers.
Word/s.
I think they became a superpower on a Thursday.
Last edited by Levian; 10-05-2004 at 07:02 PM.
I think America had the capabilities to be a super power from rather early on, if they chose to. A lot of natural rescources, a lot of people. But before WWI (and after WWI), America chose to be an isolationist state. This means they wanted nothing to do with the rest of the world. They didnt want to get mucked up in anything... for example, the people of America then didnt want to be doing what America is doing now; getting involved in every other countries affairs.
They wanted to stay out of WWI, but ended up helping, and then returned to an isolationist state. They wanted to stay out of WWII, but did help Britian through the lend-lease program. But then Japan attacked and that was all screwed. So the US entered the war, won in Asia and helped Britian win in Europe, la la la. Since then, America has chosen to be the police force for the world... and the US is a superpower, thanks to those things I mentioned before. Whether it's a good thing or not is left to opinion.
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Originally Posted by TheAbominatrix
They came to the aid of Britian. Russia was doing their own thing, and they met in the middle. Yes, they did help eachother.
Nope. Germany tried to invade Britain with their Operation Sea Lion in 1940, but were defeated in the Battle of Britain.
Unless you mean coming to the aid of Britain in winning the war in mainland Western Europe, which undoubtedly Britain couldn't have done without America being the main driving force.
I was referring to the land war, yes.
Nucular weaponry. ISN'T OUR SOCIETY GREAT? :<z>D
Oh. And money. Lots of money. (let's just forget about our deficit for the sake of discussion, eh?)
Two billion, about.
It might have been initially about creating the atom bomb first, but as you can see today that doesn't mean jack. I think it's always been about money and not physical force. And it's been Big Business that has gotten us to the place we are today. Europe has tighter restrictions on Big Business than we do. They always have. Our economy was allowed to grow during the Industrial Revolution without much government control. We bankrupted the Kaiser during WW1. We came out victorious and humiliated Germany with the Treaty of Versailles.
The market crash in 1929 was a definite setback, but WW2 soon put us back on track. Again, we bankrupted Hitler and the Allies won the war. After the war, Kennedy and Johnson minimized the role of Big Business, but Reagan once again gave power to business during the 1980's. We built countless WMDs and bankrupted the U.S.S.R. in the process.
The most important aspect in the U.S. dominance in the world has been, I think, outsourcing. Companies have been able to make huge profits while destroying other economies throughout the world. Each victory has secured the U.S. as the most powerful country in the world.
The past 150 years have been about money more so than sheer power.
EDIT: Russia could have swept throughout all of Europe and won the war in Europe. Besides, the war in Western Europe was less important than the war in Eastern Europe.
Large land area, large population, but also other things; if not, why is Russia not a superpower? "Power" in the sense of a superpower is often a matter of money, because money leads to influence and military strength. It's probably impossible to pick just one reason, but if I HAD to pick one reason I'd probably say the US is a superpower because it's wealthy, like Yamaneko said. Our ideals might also have something to do with it. Our freedoms for example; freedom is a good way to fuel innovation. Improvement for the sake of improvement, and gaining power as a side effect.
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