America at 250 - A History - A New Deal for the World - Class 21

Explore World War II as the most significant event of the 20th century in this 54-minute university lecture delivered by Professor Beverly Gage at Yale University's Battell Chapel. Examine how the war reshaped America's role on the global stage and established new international frameworks in the aftermath of the conflict. Learn about the transformation of American foreign policy, the emergence of the United States as a global superpower, and the creation of international institutions that would define the post-war world order. Discover how wartime mobilization affected domestic society, the economy, and government structures, while analyzing the connections between America's wartime experience and its subsequent leadership in establishing a "new deal for the world" through organizations like the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system. This lecture forms part of a comprehensive examination of U.S. history from 1776 to the present, delivered as part of Yale's DeVane Lecture series in preparation for America's 250th anniversary in 2026, with Professor Gage covering the period from the 1890s through the end of the 20th century, focusing on debates around immigration, wealth inequality, and the creation of the social welfare state.