The United States of America is the main world power in the western hemisphere. Founded in a rebellion against an unjust British empire in the late 1700's, the nation had a strained relationship during a period in which the British Empire continued to spread around the world. The nation helped the British and Europe win World War II against the second act of aggression by the nation of Germany and its allies. But then, due to a strained national budget, the US Congress refused to allocate funds to rebuild Europe. Instead it built up the defenses of its North American and Pacific interests.