A compelling look at the movements and developments that propelled America to world dominance.

AMERICAN EMPIRE examines the United States at the peak of its power, from the end of World War II through the start of the twenty-first century. Combining a focus on politics, the economy, and international affairs with portraits of culture, the built environment, and everyday life, Freeman provides a sweeping look at the U.S. during an era when it achieved unmatched wealth and international hegemony but never fully realized the widespread hopes at the end of World War II for a peaceful world and more equitable society. The economic boom brought on by the war, the rise of labor and its combative struggle with capitalism, and the long, troubling arc of Vietnam and its consequences are explored in depth. Woven into these narratives are the battles waged for civil and women's rights, both of which propelled the growth of the economy and the democratic revolution.