When We Became Americans (1946–1973)

Abstract

This chapter explores the singularities of the United States world hegemony by contrasting it with the previous British one. The synergy between military might, economic power, and the American dream is explained and exemplified.

By “America” is meant the United States of America. Although the name America also refers to the entire continent ranging from the North to the South poles, one of the privileges that comes with world hegemony is the appropriation of the name in exclusivity and the recognition of this appropriation by the rest of the world. Such appropriation can be contested by referring specifically to the United States. However, the name United States can also allude to the United States of Mexico or the United States of Brazil. Only the full name United States of America singles out properly the United States of America. But then again, the appropriation of the continent’s name to itself remains in place.