Essay on The Rise of the American Empire - 1639 Words

WWII has a ripple effect across the globe causing changes both internationally and domestically. Internationally, The sun finally began to set over the British Empire with the majority of her majesties colonial possessions gaining independence in the years following the war. Britain’s stage left exit from its hegemonic role resulted in the start of a new â€Å"Great Game† between two burgeoning superpowers. A new world order began to take shape with the United States and USSR vying to establish their own hegemony. Aside from causing a major shift in geopolitical power, WWII also solidified the integral role oil played politically in national security. However, following the war the United States was no longer the world’s largest oil producer†¦show more content†¦Accordingly oil played a significant role in the United States rise to power in the Middle East. Before the War ended President Roosevelt met with the King of Saudi Arabia where it was establishe d the relationship between the two countries would be about oil. America’s power in the region was primarily directed through oil companies such as Aramco. So was the United States an Empire? This isn’t an easy question to answer. I think part of the reason it’s so hard to answer definitively is that we don’t have a concrete definition of what an empire is. Definitions of what constitutes an Empire vary and the word has been used in many different contexts over time. The definition we came up with in class is a good one to start with in trying to determine weather or not the United States was empire with regards to the Middle East after WWII. Empire: Using power to affect somewhere else to further your self-interest at the expense of the somewhere else. This isn’t a perfect definition of empire, but it does capture two important elements of the nature of imperialism. First, There is always an unequal distribution of power between the empire and those controlled by it. The empire dominates and subverts, using various means at its disposal to control the somewhere else. And the second is that the relationship of empire and those it controls is inherently exploitive. The sole reason for an empire’s creation in theShow MoreRelatedThe Rise Of The Modern American Empire934 Words   |  4 PagesUNIV 7210 Discussion #1 January 19-February 6 Discuss the extent to which American hegemony led to the rise of the modern American empire. Which factors are the most significant and why? How does American hegemony compare to that of the British Empire, which preceded it? American control affected the ascent of the United States as the chief cash based superpower on the planet. American control won toward the end of/conclusive feeling of WWII. Cash based power and (firm and unfalteringRead MoreExamining Through American Empire By Joshua B Freeman957 Words   |  4 PagesExamining through American Empire by Joshua B Freeman, it evident that American has indeed integrated into an empire. In the writing, Freeman advocates that the tenure of World War I created one of the most profound legacies across the world. The legacy resulted in the collapse of countries such German, Russia, Ottoman Empire, and Austro-Hungarian. On the other hand, the author defines that existence of World War II came in with much influence to the Americans. The events within the World War IIRead MoreRadicalism and Revolutions Essay1112 Words   |  5 PagesDuring 1700s, the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions were no exception. The Enlightenment ideas that were spreading a round this time lead people of these three nations to question their ruling elites, and to begin considering breaking free. 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