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# How America's military shaped the nation's history
- URL: https://www.cascadepbs.org/show/newshour/extras/crossroads-at-250-1794437300/
- Published: 2026-11-12T01:15:23.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-12T16:00:13.000Z
- Description: How America's military shaped the nation's history and evolved over 250 years
- Author: Cascade PBS Staff
- Tags: PBS News Hour, #ZZZ_Show_fe87d6dc-6a0c-4ffb-800c-e787276ea730, #v1.7, #ZZZ_Extra_a67fc51b-9baf-4036-a010-ae4aac830c53, #extra

Over the last 250 years, the United States military has helped shape the nation's history – from the fight for independence to its emergence as the world's leading military power. But as the military's reach has grown, fewer Americans are serving in uniform. Judy Woodruff explores what that means for the country in her series, Crossroads: America at 250.