The great nations of Western Europe were weakened economically, industrially and politically after World War II (1939-1945), as the conflict devastated several countries. In this context, two world powers with divergent ideals emerged, the United States and the Soviet Union, both wanted to expand the influences of their political-economic systems (capitalism and socialism) by world. This rivalry, known as the Cold War, lasted until the fall of socialism in 1991.
One of the main reasons that led the United States to emerge as a world power was the financing or the loan that the nation provided European countries for the reconstruction of war-torn nations, this process was called the plan Marshall. In addition to financial aid, the United States supplied industrialized products to Europe and other countries that previously had trade relations with the European powers.
Despite the extreme importance that this fact had for the consolidation of the United States as a power, there are other factors, such as the enormous domestic consumer market, the colonization system (population), abundant labor, energy potential, diversified mineral deposits, in addition to structural support in the areas of logistics, improvement of techniques and technologies and an urban fabric that favored the functioning industrial.
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By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team
U.S - geography - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FREITAS, Eduardo de. "The birth of the greatest power in the world"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/o-nascimento-maior-potencia-mundial.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.