America has interfered in many countries, whether it was for economic pursuits or international objectives. Ever since expansionism in the late 1800s, America has been involved with mostly countries that are in chaos or have tyrannical leaders. The Philippines was an exception, because Emilio Aguinaldo established a government similar to that of the United States. President McKinley fought a war with the Philippines because of economic opportunities. His defense was that he wanted to “uplift and civilize and Christianize” the people of the Philippines, even when most of them were already Roman Catholics. When the United States won the war, McKinley modernized the economy there and enforced American officials to impose American ideals and laws.

After World War II, the Cold War had also began. Most of Europe were in ruins and there was fear that communism would spring up in European countries and therefore, the policy of containment took place. However, the war in Asia was the hottest. The Korean War lasted from 1950 to 1953. Before the war, North Korea was communist and South Korea was democratic. When North Korea invaded South Korea, the United States stepped in and sent troops and aid to South Korea. America was keeping its promise to prevent the spread of communism in its containment policy. When North Korea retreated behind the border, American and South Korean troops advanced towards North Korea and almost into China, when Chinese troops forced them back. The result was that Korea was still divided into two different government once again.

Globalization emerged towards the end of the century and communism started to fade away. As a result, there was an internationalization of commerce and culture and many pacts were made with international countries. The Gulf War began when Iraq invaded Kuwait and Bush was scared that Saddam Hussein would attack its longtime ally Saudi Arabia so Bush sent troops there. Not long after, troops attacked Iraq and freed Kuwait, but not before thousands of Iraqis and 184 American soldiers died. Even when Iraq was defeated, Hussein still remained and Iraqis became furious at the atrocities of Bush’s actions.