How did America become the SuperPower/World's Top SuperPower it is?

Question

Feel free to debate whether or not America is the world's greatest power. I mean, most people, either through politics, economics, and military might, would consider America the world's greatest power. How did this happen? How did we go from a colony to what we are today?

Answer 1

political economics and military

Answer 2

America offers more opportunity and social mobility than any other country, including the countries of Europe.
In the American view, there is nothing vile or degraded about serving your customers either as a CEO or as a waiter. The ordinary life of production and supporting a family is more highly valued in the United States than in any other country. America is the only country in the world where we call the waiter "sir," as if he were a knight.
People live longer, fuller lives in America.
In America the destiny of the young is not given to them, but created by them.
America has gone further than any other society in establishing equality of rights.
America has found a solution to the problem of religious and ethnic conflict that continues to divide and terrorize much of the world. Visitors to places like New York are amazed to see the way in which Serbs and Croatians, Sikhs and Hindus, Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants, Jews and Palestinians, all seem to work and live together in harmony. How is this possible when these same groups are spearing each other and burning each other's homes in so many places in the world?
America is the only country in the world that extends full membership to outsiders. An American could spend 40 years in India but would not become Indian. In America, by contrast, hundreds of millions have come from far-flung shores and over time they, or at least their children, have in a profound and full sense "become American."
Twice in the 20th century, the United States saved the world -- first from the Nazi threat, then from Soviet totalitarianism. What would have been the world's fate if America had not existed? After destroying Germany and Japan in World War II, the United States proceeded to rebuild both countries, and today they are American allies. Now we are doing the same thing in Afghanistan and Iraq. Yet America never stays to rule that country.
America is far from perfect, and there is lots of room for improvement. In spite of its flaws, however, American life as it is lived today is the best life that our world has to offer. Ultimately America is worthy of our love and sacrifice because, more than any other society, it makes possible the good life, and the life that is good

Answer 3

We stole land, we won wars, we made "The bomb", we dropped said bomb, and we contributed to the rest of the world from the successes we have had.

The first 3 were largely ignored- the 4th got everyone's attention, the 5th eased much of the tension. In that order.

Answer 4

Well we used to reward innovation and hard work more than other countries so good people flocked here. Today we reward sneaky, greedy people and that's why our position in the world is slipping.

Answer 5

By robbing from everybody and keeping everything, and having a great bunch of people
keeping the wheels turning.

Answer 6

Slavery made America rich.

Answer 7

CAPITALISM AND FREEDOM GOES HAND IN HAND.
You can't have Freedom without Capitalism.
And you can't have Capitalism without Freedom.
THAT'S HOW WE BECAME THE WORLD'S SUPER POWER.
Europe went the Socialist Route. In 20 years, they will all be Third World Banana Republics.

Answer 8

ha thats the problem...we think we are but look over to china...it scares me..