system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How did America become so powerful despite being such a young country (also having powerful enemies in their beginnings)?
gpt
A few reasons, both political and geographical. Geographically speaking, the US is massive, with incredible amounts of resources, which allowed for long term growth in many different economic sectors. In addition, the US was separated from the wars of Europe by the Atlantic Ocean. If the US had been bordering European nations, it likely would have never become as powerful. Politically speaking, during different periods in time, the US basically existed in a power vacuum. After WW1, the US emerged unscathed compared to Europe, which basically lost a generation of young men, and much of their infrastructure was destroyed. The US had completely intact infrastructure and comparatively few casualties. Then, post WW2, the US was the only real capitalist power, which gave it a great advantage , and allowed America to create a booming manufacturing industry that manufactured goods for the world. Further, the US policy of containment that led to involvement in Korea and Vietnam increased the importance of the Military, leading to the expansion of the US military into what it is today, the single most powerful force in human history.