So rapid has been the growth of the United States since the mid-20th century and so profound the changes it has experienced that its current superpower status in the world sometimes obscures the radical social, political, economic, and technological transformations it has experienced in that time. Although international and domestic challenges—from the Cold War to the war on terror to healthcare—as well as successes on each front have alternately stunted and accelerated the country's ascent, its role in world affairs is undeniable. With seminal documents of the each era complementing relevant text, this engrossing volume examines the trajectory of American history between the administrations of Harry Truman and Barack Obama and the factors that have shaped and sustained its development.