how did america become such a prosperous country?can china overcome america by the passage of time?

Question

today america is considered the most rich and powerful nation in world.how did it happen? after all USA is a new country while countries with very old civilizations,example, india,lag far behind it.

Answer 1

That’s a tough question to answer with just a few words. But here’s some of the high points. And let’s go back only 60 years or so (just prior to WWII). The USA:
1. Was a large country geographically
2. Was rich in natural resources
3. Had a sizeable population
4. Was strong economically despite the depression
5. Was relatively safe and isolated from aggressors (oceans E and W, good neighbors N and S)
6. Could mobilize people and industry

Thus the allies and the US were able to defeat the Nazis and their henchmen (Italy, and some French) and Japan. Not only did we the free world win, but at the end of WWII, most of the industrialized portions of the world were bombed back to the stone age and would take years to recover (yes, there are some exceptions such as Great Britain and Canada).

So in the world’s post-war recovery from WWII, while most economies were starting from scratch, the US and a few other had an enormous head start, plus the ability to rapidly retool defense industries to peacetime production of consumer goods.

But no good dead goes unpunished, and while the US and some other countries were first and fasted out of the gate, it is probably inevitable that the others will catch up over time. (In fact, Willie Nelson recorded a song on the topic.) But just because others are improving doesn’t mean the USA can’t remain a prosperous economy and a great place to live. And this is just another example of why WWII was such a pivotal event on the world stage.

Answer 2

One of the things that has held China back is government and religious restrictions on what people can and cannot do. A lot of these predate the communist regime so they are hard to change.

For instance, did you know at one point in Chinese history everyone was ordered to take a last name from an approved list of last names? It was to make the job of the government easier, but can you imagine Americans doing that?

A lot of the cultural pressure in the Orient is for everyone to be alike. It is all right for a group of people to shine, but no individuals. This is even in the schools where whole classes are promoted or failed together. One of the advantages is classmates will help slower students. One of the disadvantages is mentally disabled students often meet with accidents that will remove them from the class. (TRUE!)

Because individual people are not encouraged to shine, you have fewer inventions and few entrepreneurs than in the west. This slows everything down.

By contrast, in America you had people like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates. You also had Walt Disney, George Lucas and Gene Roddenberry. Oh, and don't forget Henry Ford and Alexander Graham Bell. All of these were individual success stories from a country that encourages individuals to succeed.

That's the true reason the USA is so successful. We welcome diversity, individuality and creativity. Sure, we have the mineral wealth, but we have the brains to go with it.

Answer 3

Size and resources are all important.

Although the USA may not have enough oil, it is rich in other mineral resources and has the population size and the space to be a successful industrialised nation.

..............and yes, many commentators predict that China may become the dominant world power at some stage in the future. It, too, has size and resource on its side.

Answer 4

Through the employment of the free market, we outproduced all other nations. Yes China can surpass us, and seems to be doing so.

Answer 5

There are lots of people who would make fun of the possibility of changing their destinies. This is because it believes that nobody gets more that what is put in his fate.

Answer 6

First word: FREEDOM
Second word: CAPITALISM
Third word: Plenty of land and natural resources

China may never surpass the U.S. - it all depends on whether they decide to allow their citizens to be truly free.

Answer 7

wait for it...China is waking up from it's long sleep

Answer 8

yes, sooner than you think... i am not sure how to feel about that