America's Status During the 20th Century

The status of the United States changed many times over the course of the 20^th century. There were events such as the occupation of the Panama Canal Zone, the Marshall Plan, and the hostages taken from the Iranian Embassy.

In the beginning of the 1900's the Americans took control of the Panama Canal Zone by actions such as military occupation and excluding the people of Panama from getting jobs controlling the canal. They also used International Law to claim this area as their own. Even though this Canal Zone rightfully belonged to the people of Panama, other countries still saw the Imperialistic US as a powerful nation because they could forcefully take land. Other nations now to viewed the United States as being in a position of power and as one of the, if not the hegemon of the world.

Later, nearing mid-century, the Marshall Plan was enacted. The Marshall Plan was the United State's main policy for rebuilding the economies of Western Europe and keeping Communism in check. This plan also contributed to the views of other countries and continued to show the United States as a powerful nation because it showed they had the power to help other countries rebuild and become stronger nations.

In 1979 53 Americans were taken hostage on their own soil (the Iranian Embassy.) They were held for 444 days with their release being January 20, 1981. This event was quite a blow to the United State's position of power and showed that the United States might not, in fact, be the only world hegemon, especially because the United States tried and failed to rescue the hostages. They were only released after the signing of the Algiers Accords, which came after the United State's botched attempt at military rescue. Not only did the US fail to rescue their citizens, but also 8 Americans and 1 Iranian were killed in the process. Of course, this led other countries to believe that the United States could not even take care of their own people, and therefore, were not as powerful as they had once thought.

Over the 20^th Century the status of the United States changed many times and caused other countries to view us in many different ways. Events such as the Iran Hostage Crisis, control of the Panama Canal Zone, and the Marshall Plan led to varied views of the United States and our position of power. At times during the 20^th Century, the United States was seen as the number one country in the world in terms of power. At other times, it sank to a lot further down on the list of powerful nations.

Sources

American History Textbook

http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/documents/hostages.phtml

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/marshall_plan/

http://www.southernexplorations.com/panama-travel/ArticleCanalAmericanDiplomacyStart.htm