Part IV

Going Global: The World Wars

In this part . . .

In the 19th century, the United States was mainly concerned with its own continent. In the 20th century, that outlook completely changed. As this part shows you, America’s 20th-century leaders were concerned with protecting American economic interests and exporting American-style democracy overseas. This new American interest in the world beyond our shores was called internationalism, and it led to involvement in two world wars.

In the first world war, the United States fought a rising German nation that threatened to dominate Europe. The second world war was much worse. The U.S. once again fought to prevent Germany from conquering Europe, but the country also battled to prevent Japan from overrunning much of Asia and the Pacific. From here on out, Americans fought their wars overseas.