AllMovie

This program chronicles the history of American involvement in warfare during the 20th century. Starting with the Spanish American War and ending with the Gulf War, the United States participated in a century of turmoil, marked by two world wars. Wars took a huge toll in lives and suffering in a steady course of conflict, punctuated by a few years of peace. The Time Life series evaluates the causes and costs of warfare in the last century. World War I ended with the defeat of Germany, but the total humiliation of that country in the ensuing peace agreement only served to sow the seeds of further discord. This episode examines the factors that led to the start of World War II, from economics to geography, and how America was once again drawn into world war. Archival film footage, photographs, journalistic accounts, and scholarly commentary tell the story of the gathering storm clouds.