2009-05-17 | Everyday English | Hits:408 | AddFavorite(0)

 Of all the events that occurred in the twentieth century, perhaps the most memorable was the rise of America as a global power. Whether through its military might, economic strength, or cultural influence, the U.S. became a global leader during the past century.

 

Prior to World War I, European nations, including Britain, France, Italy, and Germany, held the balance of power. But, in the aftermath of America’s role in both this conflict and World War II, the U.S. became known as world’s military powerhouse. The ensuing Cold War, in which America was challenged by the former USSR, ended with the fall of the Russian regime. More recent wars, notably the Vietnam War of the 1960s-70s and the Iraq War in the beginning of the twenty-first century, pointed to the limits of using American military power to engage in internal conflicts and preemptive wars.

 

During the twentieth century, America also developed as an economic leader. During and after World War II, the U.S. manufacturing base grew dramatically as did the nation’s exports, financial markets, and companies. Following World War II, many veterans took advantage of the Government-sponsored GI Bill to attend colleges and graduate schools and, by doing so, were able to join companies or start their own businesses. In turn, millions of Americans were able to buy their own homes and cars, send their children to college, and enjoy a comfortable living standard—still known worldwide as the “American Dream.”

 

Of course, beyond its military and economic strength, America also exerted a strong cultural influence across the globe. America “exported” its music, art, fashions, and attitudes to countries around the globe and, by doing so, greatly expanded its “soft power” worldwide. In the last several decades of the past century, thousands of international students—from India, China, and elsewhere—attended American graduate schools and, in turn, carried their knowledge about the U.S. back to their native lands.