Why did the US become a superpower and why did it win the Cold War?

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Why did the US become a superpower and why did it win the Cold War?

The United States of America is widely considered as a superpower owing to its economic strength, military prowess, and its far-reaching network of alliances. However, the rise of the United States towards the top to become a global superpower did not begin overnight. The Spanish-American War and the Cold War were instrumental to the rise of the United States as a superpower as it upset the positions of Spain and the Soviet Union. 

One of the reasons which made the United States a superpower was the Spanish-American War. The Spanish-American War took place in 1898. The ten weeks war was marked by a military intervention from the United States in which it sought to protect its economic interest in Cuba. The Spanish-American War changed the dynamics of the United States. The end of the war was marked by the signing of the Treaty of Paris, where Spain ceded territories that included the Philippines, West Indies, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Guam. The United States’ status immediately changed from a former colony to become a worldwide superpower. The acquisition of the former territories by the United States marked a critical strategic plan towards its rise as a superpower. The territories helped the United States led to the creation of strategic allies who helped the US to establish vital trade routes as well as tap into a wide array of economic resources that propelled its growth. 

After the end of World War 2, there were two major superpowers, America and the Soviet Union. However, the status quo was changed after the events of the cold war, which took place between 1945 and 1989. The cold war brought about a conflict of ideologies between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The United States of America was in favor of capitalism, while the Soviet Union was in favor of communism. The Cold War period led to an unprecedented rise in economic and lifestyle improvement in the United States, which further enhanced its position as a world superpower. The United States won the cold war and established itself as a global superpower. 

One of the reasons which the United States won the Cold War was due to its financial capabilities and nuclear stockpiling. The financial aspect of the cold war proved to be a significant challenge for Russia. The United States economy might enable it to wage proxy wars as well as engage in the nuclear arms race. The Soviet Union was unable to match the financial capabilities of America. The United States financial might ensure that it was able to respond with devastating effect to any weaponry responses or strategies put in place by the Soviet Union. The Cuban Missile Crisis was an illustration of the financial and weaponry of the United States. The United States pushed the Soviet Union into submission. The United States also matched the Soviet Union’s nuclear strides in space by making significant investments towards the project. The strategic defence Initiative (SDI) was a major blow to the Soviet Union as it meant that the United States was far more prepared for any attack from space. The Strategic defence initiative was a major upset for the Soviet Union during the cold war. The initiative implied that the United States had won in both the arms race as well as the space race. In the end, economic problems overcame the Soviet Union’s aspirations in the cold War. Several countries in Europe also began to replace their governments and adopt non-communist approaches. As the Soviet Union crashed, the United States rose and became a world superpower. 

Conclusion

The United States’ rise to become a superpower was engineered by its participation and outcomes in the Spanish-American War and the Cold War. The Spanish-American War changed its status from a former colony to a nation that other territories relied on for protection. As a result, it acquired access to numerous resources as well as crucial trade routes, which help increase its economic strength. The Cold War further increased the United States’ position as a superpower by defeating the Soviet Union through its financial strength as well as nuclear stockpiling.