The transition of the United States from potential world power

In 1941, The USA was a very reluctant world power. Four years later it had become a superpower in every sense of the word. After the First World War, the European nations assumed that the United States (US) would continue to involve itself in international matters, particularly in helping to reconstruct Europe and help maintain the balance of power. However, the US showed no inclination to become involved. On the one hand this was seen in …

…grand strategy in the cold war. Its analysis of Soviet intentions and capabilities set the tone and framework, at the highest levels, for US relations with the Soviet Union. The US reaction to the perceived Soviet threat was to be one of containment. The notion of rolling back the gains of communism however, was never actually pursued. NSC-68 argued for a massive military build-up in order to contain the Soviet Union and maintain American credibility.