- published: 29 Dec 2013
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American Century is a term used to describe the United States' dominance of much of the 20th century, in political, economic and cultural terms. The United States' influence grew throughout the 20th century, but became especially dominant after the end of World War II, when only two superpowers remained, the United States and the Soviet Union. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States remained the world's only superpower, became the hegemon, or what some have termed a hyperpower.
The term was coined by Time publisher Henry Luce to describe what he thought the role of the United States would be and should be during the 20th century. Henry Luce, the son of a missionary, in a February 17, 1941 Life magazine editorial urged the United States to forsake isolationism for a missionary's role, acting as the world's Good Samaritan and spreading democracy. He called upon the U.S. to enter World War II to defend democratic values:
Throughout the 17th century and the 18th century and the 19th century, this continent teemed with manifold projects and magnificent purposes. Above them all and weaving them all together into the most exciting flag of all the world and of all history was the triumphal purpose of freedom.
It is in this spirit that all of us are called, each to his own measure of capacity, and each in the widest horizon of his vision, to create the first great American Century.
The Century: America's TIme - 1929-1936: Stormy Weather
The Century: America's Time - 1920-1929: Boom To Bust
The Century: America's Time - 1971-1975: Approaching the Apocalypse
The Century: America's Time - 1946-1952: Best Years
The Century: America's Time - 1941-1945: Homefront
The Century: America's Time - 1965-1970: Unpinned
The Century: America's Time - 1914-1919: Shell Shock
Is the American Century Over? With Joseph S. Nye
The New American Century. Part 1/10
The Century: America's Time - The Beginning: Seeds of Change