How did America become a dominant global power?

[franznietzsche]

America is amongst the world's youngest countries yet it dominates the rest of the globe. . .how did this come to be?

Actually we are the world's oldest country.

We are the longest standing government, no other country currently has a government as old as our own.

 

[misskitty]

Weren't we the first country to have a functional Democratic government?

 

[Integral]

Actually we are the world's oldest country.

We are the longest standing government, no other country currently has a government as old as our own.

This simply cannot be correct. Britain's monarchy dates back to nearly the Romans and its Parliament to the Magna Carta of 1215, several hundred years before the discovery of the Americas.

 

[misskitty]

Britain was one of the first countries to establish a Parliment, wasn't it?

 

[misskitty]

Actually, China and Japan's govenments predate many of the European governments, including the time of the Romans. Japan has the longest reigning monarchy, but China has the longest govenement.

 

[Integral]

Actually, China and Japan's governments predate many of the European governments, including the time of the Romans. Japan has the longest reigning monarchy, but China has the longest government.

The traditional Chinese form of government was terminated by Ho Chi Min and the communists. So the current Chinese government originated in about 1948.

 

[spender]

This simply cannot be correct. Britain's monarchy dates back to nearly the Romans and its Parliament to the Magna Carta of 1215, several hundred years before the discovery of the Americas.

SHUT UP ! AMERICA IS # 1 !

 

[misskitty]

Even though the Chinese government was terminated by Ho Chi Min, the traditional government still counts as a government. It may not be the longest running consecutive government, but it still counts as a government.

Communism didn't exsist until the early 1900's anyway.

 

[russ_watters]

I think that America is doing so well because of the rapid low-cost development we've had since our founding. What was the source of this development? Slave labor. I'm not talking about 1800's african slave labor (though that was the start) but the general severe treatment of the working class in america in the early to mid 1900's...

But I cannot think of another country who rose to power without a sever depression of the lower working class. China, Korea, England, France they've all had it in the past during their fuedal periods (which just so happen to be the same as their rise to power).

What do you guys think? Its not about the age of the country, but about their use of the population.

Well, I think most countries went through about the same growing pains during the industrial revolution, so the exploitation of workers wouldn't be enough to explain it.

Very small percent of Americans lives in relative finnancial security,the rest lives beoyond European or Japanese standarts,stuck with paying their astronomical credit card debt,car loans and paying up to their necks for visit to the doctor.

Statistics, please.

This simply cannot be correct. Britain's monarchy dates back to nearly the Romans and its Parliament to the Magna Carta of 1215, several hundred years before the discovery of the Americas.

Britain is no longer a "real" monarchy - its government is fundamentally different today than it was when the US was founded. Hence, the US is older than Britain. [explained in detail in post #12]

Actually, China and Japan's govenments predate many of the European governments, including the time of the Romans. Japan has the longest reigning monarchy, but China has the longest govenement.

Japan ceased being a monarchy after WWII.

 

[misskitty]

I thought their family still exsisted even though they don't rule?

 

[franznietzsche]

This simply cannot be correct. Britain's monarchy dates back to nearly the Romans and its Parliament to the Magna Carta of 1215, several hundred years before the discovery of the Americas.

So does american government date back to the 1600s with the formation of colonial governments? No, it dates back to 1783 with the passing of the constitution.

The monarchy is not the ruling government of Britain.

As i understood it, Britain's government in its current form dates to the mid-1800s, but i may be wrong about that.

Either way, we are not among the world's youngest government.

 

[franznietzsche]

Even though the Chinese government was terminated by Ho Chi Min, the traditional government still counts as a government. It may not be the longest running consecutive government, but it still counts as a government.

Communism didn't exsist until the early 1900's anyway.

Wait...did you just say Ho Chi Minh terminated the CHINESE government?

Ho Chi Minh was vietnamese...

 

[franznietzsche]

Britain is no longer a "real" monarchy - its government is fundamentally different today than it was when the US was founded. Hence, the US is older than Britain. [explained in detail in post #12] J

Thank you much.

 

[misskitty]

The traditional Chinese form of government was terminated by Ho Chi Min and the communists. So the current Chinese government originated in about 1948.

This is what I was talking about.

 

[misskitty]

I should have quoted that in my earlier post. My bad.

 

[franznietzsche]

The traditional Chinese form of government was terminated by Ho Chi Min and the communists. So the current Chinese government originated in about 1948.

That would be Mao. Ho Chi Minh was vietnamese. Mao founded chinese communism when he drove out Chian Kai-shek.

Mao.

Everybody got it?

Good.

 

[misskitty]

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[spender]

One more secret to the American "succes" is to live on borrowed money as no other nation does.Everything in USA is build on credit,budget deficit is astronomical,people just don't save any money instead live on credit. They get into credit card debt, and spend this borrowed cash on JUNK!
America is living beyond its means and sooner or later everything will collapse.What is worse if America sinks countless nations will go down also, Canada going to go down next

 

[Grogs]

I think the answer to the original question (and regardless of whether the USA is actually a young nation or not) is largely a matter of geographic isolation. Since 1814 when Andrew Jackson defeated the British at New Orleans, no foreign army of any significance has set foot on American soil. At the same time, there have been several large scale wars in Europe. In 1945 for example, most of continental europe had been decimated by WWII while across the ocean the American war machine had spurred its production to an all-time high. Had it not been for Stalin and his brutal modernization tactics coupled with the US fear of communism, it's likely this industrial superiority would have vanished rapidly.

 

[misskitty]

Interesting way to look at it. Never thought of it that way. Its a good point Grogs. I will agree with you on that.

 

[evthis]

Wmd?

Many nations/empires have climbed to the top, but none have ever had 1/ WMDs or 2/ WMDs with a global reach. Those poor Romans had to march everywhere to kick your ass. America may be young, but a gun in the hands of a toddler is still a gun, and may be all the more frightening for it.

--/*

I have a lot to say about the posts that have been made during my abscence and I don't have the time right now to respond to it all but first if someone could please help me to know what WMDs? stand for..

 

[evthis]

--/*

I have a lot to say about the posts that have been made during my abscence and I don't have the time right now to respond to it all but first if someone could please help me to know what WMDs? stand for..

weapons of mass destruction?

 

[Grogs]

weapons of mass destruction?

Yes. Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical

 

[evthis]

Is America more of a melting pot of different types or a magnet for similar types?

 

[matthyaouw]

Weren't we the first country to have a functional Democratic government?

I think that was ancient Athens.

 

[vikasj007]

all this greatness about america is hollow. i mean, the americans are lazy(everyone knows that) and the most hardworking people in america are not even americans, they mostly indian immigrants. and also from other countries.

in fact, just today i was reading in the newspaper, the CEO of intel, has said that if americans don't wake up, India and china will overtake them very quickly.

he also said," the americans take success for granted, and expect it to come to them. this is not the case in India and china, the people there, work hard for success..."

 

[russ_watters]

Have a look at the "Do americans really work so many hours?" thread, vikasj...

Also, given the fact that India has more than 3x the US's population and China more than 4x, to "overtake" us in absolute terms, they only need to be 1/3 and 1/4 as productive as us. So no, in fact, our "lead" is still quite vast.

Your perceptions are not the reality.

 

[loseyourname]

I think that was ancient Athens.

Athens was a city-state. The US was the first nation-state to have a true democracy.

 

[ray b]

Athens was a city-state. The US was the first nation-state to have a true democracy.

rome in the early empire was a limited democracy
are we a TRUE DEMOCRACY TODAY in the USA?
I THINK NOT just a less limited one then rome
as many still can't vote or don't and does the guy with them most votes "WIN"
and ATHENS with its allys and empire was bigger then most nations

 

[Artman]

rome in the early empire was a limited democracy
are we a TRUE DEMOCRACY TODAY in the USA?
I THINK NOT just a less limited one then rome
as many still can't vote or don't and does the guy with them most votes "WIN"
and ATHENS with its allys and empire was bigger then most nations

The USA is a republic.