1. 1. Upon President Wilson’’s re- 2. In 2003, President George W. 3. In 1949, after World War II,
quest, on April 6, 1917, Con- Bush made it a large part of his the United States and other de-
gress declared War on Germany agenda to support a worldwide mocratic western countries
and gave the President the initiative to help countries prevent formed NATO, the North Atlan-
power to lead the army and and treat HIV/AIDS. tic Treaty Organization. It said
navy to fight Germany in World that if any country was at-
War I. tacked by an outside nation,
they would help defend each
other.
4. The United States govern- 5. In 1968, the major countries of 6. In 1990, Iraqi leader Sad-
ment provides advice and help the world agreed to the ““Nuclear dam Hussein invaded and took
for countries wanting to start Non-Proliferation Treaty,”” which is over neighboring Kuwait. In
new democracies by showing aimed at limiting the spread of nu- January 1991, Congress author-
them how to run fair elections. clear weapons. As of 2010, over ized President George H.W.
180 countries have joined. Bush to lead U.S. troops into
Kuwait and force the Iraqi
troops to leave.
7. In response to the January 8. The United States has a pro- 9. On December 7, 1941, Japan
2010 earthquake that devas- gram aimed at helping people in attacked Pearl Harbor, an act
tated Haiti, the United States is developing countries have access that would bring the U.S. into
giving the country significant to safe drinking water. World War II. The next day,
aid in the form of food, water, Congress passed a war declara-
and medical care. tion giving President Roosevelt
the power to lead the entire
U.S. navy and military against
Japan.
10. In June 1950, during the 11. President Wilson wanted the 12. After World War II, the
Cold War, communist North Ko- United States to agree to the United States gave more than
rea invaded South Korea, Treaty of Versailles, the overall $13 billion to western Europe to
which the United States sup- peace treaty ending World War the help rebuild countries there and
ported. As a result, President war in Europe, and to join the new have democratic governments.
Harry S. Truman sent U.S. League of Nations. The U.S. Sen-
troops as part of a United Na- ate rejected these actions, how-
tions mission to fight on behalf ever, so the U.S. did not agree to
of South Korea. Active fighting them.
in the war lasted through July
1953.
13. The United States, Canada, 14. On September 11, 2001, al- 15. The United States was the
and Mexico agreed to the North Qaeda terrorists attacked the first country to approve of the
American Free Trade Agree- United States directly. President document that created the
ment (NAFTA), whose goal is to George W. Bush asked Congress United Nations, an international
make it easier to trade among for a resolution asking to use mili- organization created after
the three countries. tary force against those responsi- World War II, that tries to keep
ble; this led to U.S. troops fighting world peace.
in Afghanistan because al-Qaeda’’s
leaders were based there.