You may not believe it!
The modern United States of America holds unparalleled military power, with over 800 military bases worldwide and being responsible for some 37% of global military spending. Yet the country is virtually unrecognizable when compared to the way it began two centuries ago. Expansionism has been the lifeblood of the American nation, and the spread of US idealism has reached across the world, with deep consequences.
But how did America go from being a continent-restricted colony to becoming a global powerhouse of influence and military might? Click through this gallery to find out.
At its founding, America was not a global power. For its first 70 years, it focused primarily on expanding its territory through North America, remaining disconnected from global affairs and reluctant to project influence beyond its borders.
After the Civil War, figures like Secretary of State William H. Seward advocated for US expansion, aiming to purchase Alaska, Greenland, and Caribbean territories. However, anti-imperialist factions in Congress strongly opposed such moves.
The Industrial Revolution's economic boom strengthened the US economy, leading to a more centralized federal government. This concentration of power enabled expansionist presidents to extend American influence abroad, despite some internal resistance.
A pivotal moment for the US came in 1898 when President William McKinley led the nation into war with Spain, acquiring key territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This truly signaled the beginning of America’s formal rise as a global empire.
Following the Spanish-American War, the US continued acquiring territories, annexing Hawaii, Wake Island, and American Samoa between 1898 and 1900. This rapid expansion cemented the country’s far-reaching influence in the Pacific and the Caribbean.
The early 20th century saw America asserting its influence by controlling the Panama Canal Zone and intervening in countries like the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. It also played a significant diplomatic role regarding the Western presence in China.
American intervention in World War I was decisive, not only in hastening the end of the conflict but also in showing the world the extent of US influence, as President Woodrow Wilson attempted to shape post-war peace through the League of Nations.
Wilson's most ambitious foreign policy project was the creation of the League of Nations, an international organization aimed at promoting global peace. However, American isolationism prevailed, and Congress refused to join, undermining Wilson’s vision for global cooperation.
Despite Wilson's ambitions, the US returned to isolationism during the period between World War I and II, particularly during the Great Depression. This inward focus persisted even as global threats (like Adolf Hitler’s rise in Europe and Japan’s expansionism in Asia) became more pronounced.
Japan's imperial ambitions in East Asia clashed directly with American interests, especially regarding US territories and troops in the region. This conflict eventually culminated in the attack on Pearl Harbor that drew the United States into World War II.
World War II transformed the United States into the leading global power. The country emerged with its economy intact and was the only nation equipped with atomic weapons, allowing it to decisively shape world order after the war.
After World War II, the US played a key role in establishing the United Nations, an international body aimed at preventing future wars by fostering cooperation and resolving disputes through dialogue and international law, rather than military conflict.
At the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, the US helped design a new global financial system, creating institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. These organizations sought to prevent another economic crisis like the Great Depression and future global conflicts.
By creating post-war institutions like the UN, the US had committed itself to global engagement, taking on the responsibility of managing international economic and political issues to promote stability and prevent further wars.
Although the US and the Soviet Union were allies during World War II, their post-war visions diverged. The US sought to preserve a free-trading world, while Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe created a lasting geopolitical conflict that would shape global politics.
In response to Soviet influence, the US adopted the strategy of "containment," seeking to curb the spread of communism worldwide. This new doctrine required the US to maintain a global presence and intervene in conflicts around the world to contain Soviet power.
Instead of dismantling its World War II military, the US maintained its vast military infrastructure to support its containment strategy, which became essential for its global engagements during the Cold War and beyond.
As part of its containment strategy, the US formed unlikely alliances with authoritarian regimes in countries like Saudi Arabia and South Korea, viewing these relationships as necessary to counter Soviet influence in key regions around the globe.
The US frequently engaged in covert operations to combat Soviet influence, supporting dictatorships in countries like Iran and backing insurgent groups like the Mujahideen in Afghanistan.
Throughout the Cold War, the US involved itself in hundreds of conflicts, from supporting rebels in Nicaragua to aiding anti-communist governments worldwide. This allowed the nation to establish a complex web of alliances and adversarial relationships that shaped its global presence.
Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the US faced a choice: withdraw from global entanglements or maintain its global presence. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton chose the latter and believed that continued engagement served both US and global interests.
The attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, was a turning point for America’s worldwide military influence. The US launched the “Global War on Terror,” and the nation subsequently expanded its military budget a great extent.
Donald Trump’s presidency marked a shift in US foreign policy. He questioned long-standing alliances (like NATO) and criticized American allies for not sufficiently contributing to their own defense.
The United States returned to global leadership on climate change during the presidency of Joe Biden, and the country reentered key international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord.
Maintaining America’s global dominance has become increasingly complex. Geopolitics, shifting alliances, and economic strain (both on home soil and internationally) have made it difficult for the nation to maintain its stability.
As time has marched on, various political movements have destabilized America’s enduring reputation. The Black Lives Matter movement and the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, have caused the national and international community to question the country’s governance.
Experts argue that America’s withdrawal of military troops from Afghanistan in 2021 was one of the nation’s most negatively defining moments, especially since the Taliban quickly regained control over the country despite America’s 20-year presence.
Over time, other countries have made prominent strides in dethroning the United States as the strongest superpower in the world. China, for example, has seen major economic and military developments that have pushed it closer to the top.
With shifting global power and political pressures, the future of US foreign policy remains uncertain. Questions about the nation’s continued commitment to alliances and international institutions have truly made the global community skeptical about the country’s status as a superpower.
Sources: (Vox) (Office of the Historian) (The Atlantic) (Britannica)
See also: The rebuilding of Europe after WWII
How America became a superpower
From a colony to a superpower in only 200 years
LIFESTYLE History
The modern United States of America holds unparalleled military power, with over 800 military bases worldwide and being responsible for some 37% of global military spending. Yet the country is virtually unrecognizable when compared to the way it began two centuries ago. Expansionism has been the lifeblood of the American nation, and the spread of US idealism has reached across the world, with deep consequences.
But how did America go from being a continent-restricted colony to becoming a global powerhouse of influence and military might? Click through this gallery to find out.