It’s no secret that America likes to stick its hands in many pies and that’s why we’ve been involved in so many major global events. Sometimes, we’ve entered world wars to help our allies—other times, it’s because we’re dealing with international economic crises. Whatever the reason, our actions have affected the entire world! Here are eleven important global crises where America played a big role.
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Entry into World War I
Before 1917, America tried hard to stay neutral—but then we finally joined World War I on the Allies’ side. This came after two major incidents, including the Germans sinking the British ship Lusitania which killed 128 Americans. Then came the Zimmermann Telegram, a secret message from Germany to Mexico proposing an alliance against the U.S. We couldn’t help but get involved! However, it was lucky that we did because our entry was a turning point that helped end the war a year later.
Involvement in World War II
Similarly, after the devastating Pearl Harbor attack, we declared war on Japan and officially entered World War II. We began creating weapons & equipment for our troops and also for Allied nations through programs like Lend-Lease. But that wasn’t all. After the war, America helped rebuild Europe with the Marshall Plan by pumping billions into different nations’ economies.
The Korean War Intervention
In June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea—so we stepped in to support the South under the United Nations banner. American troops, alongside forces from other nations, faced fierce battles like the Inchon Landing. It was a harsh war that included significant casualties. Eventually, it ended in 1953 with an armistice that created the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) which still separates North & South Korea.
Escalation of the Vietnam War
America escalated its involvement in Vietnam in the 1960s by sending combat troops to the country to stop the spread of communism. We became invested in a complex war that involved guerrilla warfare & major civilian suffering. But by 1973, we withdrew our forces. The conflict left lasting scars on both American and Vietnamese societies.
The Cuban Missile Crisis
In October 1962, U.S. spy planes discovered Soviet nuclear missiles being installed in Cuba—just 90 miles from Florida’s coast. It was quite scary! The incident escalated as President John F. Kennedy ordered a naval quarantine to prevent more missiles from arriving. For 13 tense days, the world held its breath as the U.S. & the Soviet Union hovered on the brink of nuclear war. Thankfully, we reached an agreement with the Soviets to avoid major tragedy.
The 1953 Iranian Coup
In 1953, the United States helped organize a coup (known as Operation Ajax) that overthrew Iran’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. He had nationalized Iran’s oil industry which affected both British & American oil interests. The coup reinstated the increasingly authoritarian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi & our intervention had lasting effects on U.S.-Iran relations. In fact, it fueled anti-American sentiments that led to events like the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
The 1973 Chilean Coup
We even got involved in South America! In Chile, the U.S. government opposed President Salvador Allende over his socialist policy & the CIA provided covert support to opposition groups. It also funded strikes & spread propaganda to destabilize his government. Eventually, it worked—but at great cost. General Augusto Pinochet overthrew Allende and his regime severely violated many Chileans’ human rights.
Involvement in the Gulf War
After Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, America assembled a coalition of 35 nations to force Iraqi troops out and this was called Operation Desert Shield. It began in January 1991 with massive air strikes followed by a ground assault. In just 100 hours, the coalition liberated Kuwait although Saddam Hussein remained in power. Tensions in the region also continued.
The Invasion of Iraq in 2003
Just 13 years later in 2003, we led a coalition to invade Iraq after claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Our invasion toppled Hussein’s regime—but we never found any WMDs. The war lasted for years and killed many hundreds of thousands of people. You can still feel the effects of it on Iraqi and American foreign policy today.
The 2008 Global Financial Crisis
We might not like to admit it but we had a big part to play in the 2008 financial crisis—it started here! Our banks handed out many risky mortgages & when homeowners couldn’t repay, the housing market collapsed. Major institutions like Lehman Brothers went bankrupt. Eventually, the crisis led to a worldwide recession that forced millions of people out of their jobs & homes.
Withdrawal from Afghanistan
In 2021, after nearly 20 years, we completed our withdrawal from Afghanistan in an attempt to end America’s longest war. Sadly, the Taliban soon regained control of the country. Afghan government forces collapsed faster than expected which caused thousands of people to flee the country. Even now, women and girls across Afghanistan have lost their rights because of this.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.