American Century is a characterization of the 20th century as being largely dominated by the United States 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.
Read more about American Century: Origin of The Phrase, Early Characteristics, Pax Americana, Post-1945 Characteristics, Criticism
Famous quotes containing the words american and/or century:
“No married woman ever trusts her husband absolutely, nor does she ever act as if she did trust him. Her utmost confidence is as wary as an American pickpocket’s confidence that the policeman on the beat will stay bought.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)
“Nostalgia is one of the great enemies of clear thinking about the family. The disruption of families in the nineteenth century through death, separation, and other convulsions of an industrializing economy was much more catastrophic than we imagine.”
—Joseph Featherstone (20th century)