The influence of WWII on the U.S.

world’s leadership
During World War II, the US went from a moderate world power to the leader of the
world. American politicians unexpected the United States to be a major world power
before World War II. They expect powerful countries, like Great Britain, to play that
role. By the end of World War II, though, the US became one of the two most
powerful countries in the world, along with the Soviet Union. It also risen to power.
World War II had a huge impact on the United States' path to becoming a world
leader.

To begin with, the war speed up the growth of the country's industries and economy.
After the war, the United States was the world's biggest economic power. American
factories made a lot of weapons and supplies for the Allies. That it had a strong
economy made it more respected around the world (Burton). Because of WWII, the
United States' rise as a world economic powerhouse. There were a rise in industrial
output and jobs. During the war, the U.S. government put a lot of money into
industries that would help the Allies win. This led to the growth of manufacturing
areas like making airplanes, ships, and weapons. This huge amount of industrial
output not only helped the war effort by making goods. It also sped up economic
growth and led to new ideas. For example, by 1945, more than half of global
productivities were made in the United States (IMF). More than a third of all exports
in the world came from the US. And the US had about two-thirds of the world's gold
holdings (IMF). There were also big changes in economic strategy because of the war.
To control inflation and make sure that resources were shared fairly, the government
put in place measures like price controls, rationing, and pay freezes (McCormick 3).
This set the stage for the American economic policies that would define the time after
the war.

Also, World War II changed the way people traded and did business around the world.
The United States came out of the war as the world's biggest creditor country. At the
end of the 1800s, the French franc and the German mark were the British pound's
closest competitors. The British pound was worth more than twice as much as those
currencies. The US dollar couldn't keep up with European currencies. Even though the
British pound stayed strong, it was becoming less popular as a common currency for
international trade after WWII (Burton). Later, the American dollar was stronger than
the British pound as the British pound lost its value due to two world wars and a
global economic depression. By 1945, the dollar and the pound had changed places
with each other (IMF). Because of this, the U.S. was able to shape the international
economic order after World War II through programs like Bretton Woods and the
creation of organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
(IMF).Overall, World War II made the US economy growth and became a leader of
the world.

Second, World War II changed the way foreign politics worked. Traditional European
powers like Britain and France lost power because of the war. So the U.S. had chance
to be the leader. The U.S. leades the world's rebuilding through programs like the
Marshall Plan. World War II marked the end of traditional European powers like
Britain and France. The war caused a lot of damage to these countries' economies and
governments. So they were unable to return to their pre-war position as world leaders.
As historian Richard Overy says, "The war destroyed the European political
landscape, swept away the old colonial empires, and gave birth to new superpowers."
(Overy 15). This change in the balance of power left Europe with a big power gap. So
it was possible for the US to become the most important country in creating post-war
world.

One of the most important ways was through the Marshall Plan. This big plan from
George Marshall, was to help European countries rebuild and recover by giving them
fund. The United States gived a lot of money to the Marshall Plan to help them
rebuild. As historian Michael J. Hogan suggests "The Marshall Plan was a bold and
visionary strategy by the United States to promote stability and prosperity in Europe
while advancing its own strategic interests" (Hogan 72). By giving help and support
to European countries, the U.S. showed the care about world peace. It also build role
as a major leader in rebuilding after the war.

Third, World War II was a turning point that made the US military stronger. It become more
important on the world stage. The country's important roles in helping the Allies win showed its
strong military. This also build its status as a superpower. As John Keegan says, "The United
States emerged from World War II as the preeminent military power in the world, having
demonstrated its ability to mobilize vast resources and project force across multiple theaters of
conflict" (Keegan 14). The United States' strong military force was strengthened by its wins in
battles. Also, dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 shows that the
US was the most important country in creating the world order after the war. The damaging effects
of atom weapons showed the U.S. power. It also sent a thretaning message to possible enemies.
According to historian Robert J. McMahon, "The atomic bombings of Japan marked the start of
the nuclear age and fundamentally changed the geopolitical landscape, with the United States
becoming the only country with atomic weapons" (McMahon 127). This event made the United
States even more of a major player in foreign affairs. It had a big effect on world geopolitics after
the war.
Work Citated:
Overy, Richard. "The Origins of World War II." The Oxford Illustrated History of
World War II, Oxford University Press, 2015, pp. 15-37.

Hogan, Michael J. The Marshall Plan: America, Britain, and the Reconstruction of
Western Europe, 1947-1952. Cambridge University Press, 1990.

Keegan, John. The Second World War. Penguin Books, 2005.

McMahon, Robert J. The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University
Press, 2003.

https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/024/1958/001/article-A004-en.xml