5
For most of the modern world, the late 1940s to the early 1960s
was a time of reconstruction and rebuilding due to the consequenc-
es of World War II. America was the exception.
The post–World War II era marked the beginning of a new world
order and America’s influence on the world at large. It was a time of
growth, prosperity, and a collective vision of looking forward to-
ward a bright and optimistic future that ultimately transformed the
nation, as well as the world that it was now leading. At the end of
World War II, British prime minister Winston Churchill (1874–1965)
stated that “America at this moment stands at the summit of the
world.” It was not only perceived as the new leader of the free
world, but also the leader of the world’