Superpower Research Paper

How did the US raise itself to superpower status The US emerged from the second world war as the most powerful nation on earth, but how did we get there? We sure didn’t start off as a feared or ever respected country. In my paper I will inform you the events that took place, and the role they played in making the US a Superpower. The Thesis of this paper is, how did the US raise itself to be a superpower. In the early 1900’s, America started expanding to ensure its economic, and military security. Starting with the annexation of Hawaii, giving the US permanent control over Pearl Harbor and the Naval base at Manila. Followed by the US taking control over the Philippines in 1913. Shifting its attention, the US then sought control over Cuba
with the Platt Amendment which stated: 1)Cuba would not be permitted to make treaties with foreign powers; 2) The US would have broad authority to intervene in Cuban political and economic affairs; 3) Cuba would sell or lease land to the US for naval stations. The Platte Amendment made Cuba Dependent of trade with the US, between 1898 and 1914 US trade with Cuba increased from $27 million to $300 million, and investments from $50 million to $220 million. Shortly after, Guantanamo Bay was built in Cuba. Peurto Rico also fell under the US control with the Foraker Act in 1901. Secretary John Hay used the “Open Door” policy to open China’s markets to US trade. Theodore Roosevelt was fully convinced that Americans were superior to the rest of the world, and sought after supremacy in economic and political affairs.
He thought that “all great nations ultimately depended on the skill and dedication of their warriors.” He understood however that the US could not rule every portion of the globe through military, and consequently tried for negotiation rather that war. The Roosevelt Corollary declared that the US had a right to intervene in domestic affairs of nations in the western hemisphere. Arguably his biggest achievement however was the building of the Panama Canal which created a direct route between the Pacific and Atlantic
oceans.

Freedom is the biggest reason for the US becoming a superpower because people could go out and make the most out of their lives, and in doing so also helped their country.
For example, when the gold rush hit, the miners were getting rich which also makes the country rich. Henry Ford is considered one of the most important innovators because he invented a more efficient way to produce his cars, not even knowing that the assembly line would be a crucial part of the US producing war time supplies and in turn selling, or loaning them to allied countries such as Britain in accordance with the Lend-Lease Act. This was seen in WW2 when an engineer named Henry J Kaiser put his skill into the war effort by building ten and a half cargo-vessels or Liberty ships every day. Ford also helped the cause, using there plant at Willow Run to build ten bombers a day! The War Industries Board rewarded companies who switched to producing war time goods. Nobody could keep up with the mass production of the US during WW2, and all thanks go to the folks at the home front. People are proud to be American, and will do whatever is asked of them when the country is in need or peril. And if they weren’t willing, the War Manpower Commission would help persuade you into working certain jobs. Along with the majority of the workforce focusing on popping staggering numbers of planes, ships, jeeps, bullets, or whatever else our troops needed, Americans also took rationing resources very seriously.
Anything they could go without was gone without and shipped over to our troops.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the US entered the war, on their side were the Allied nations: US, USSR and Great Britain. The turning point of the Pacific war was the Battle of Midway, which the US out smarted Japan, and won. The US was eager to invade France; however Britain was never convinced the timing was right. That is until D-Day, during which the largest water front in history invades France. After the Suicide of Hitler, and Germanys surrender on May 8, 1945, the US used a technique called Island Hopping to take over only the islands essential to the war effort. They did so using fire bombs, and on August 6, and 9, 1945 the first ever Atomic Bombs were dropped on the cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Finally ending the war, and leaving all other countries in shock, and fear of the US ultimate weapon.