Defining Documents in American History: America's Influence on Foreign Governments (Part 2) 1960-Present

As the United States grew in size and international stature, its influence could increasingly be felt around the world. Other nations eagerly formed trade alliances, while the U.S. backed its allies in two world wars, among other conflicts. Meanwhile, the U.S. also sought to influence foreign governments through means such as diplomacy, economic pressure, cultural exchanges, and even military intervention.

The second two-volume set in this series, these volumes trace the history of America’s influence on foreign governments from 1960 to 2026, from the Cold War-era covert operations to overthrow regimes deemed undesirable to American interests, the Global Arms Race, 9/11, and ending with America’s participation in the US-Israel led War with Iran of today, among many other examples.

The material is organized into curated sections, each beginning with a brief introduction that examines the importance of the topic through a variety of historical documents. The documents contained within these sections provide an overview of the history and significance of each, and the wider ramifications felt not only in regards to the direct actions of the U.S., but how those actions helped shape the modern world. Documents examined include legislation, historical accounts, speeches, agreements, court cases, news articles, and more.