Editing History of North America (section)

===World War II===
{{main|World War II|Canada in World War II|Military history of the United States during World War II|United States home front during World War II|SS Potrero del Llano|Faja de Oro|Escuadrón 201}}
[[File:British Columbia Regiment 1940.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|The [[The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) (RCAC)|British Columbia Regiment]] marching in [[New Westminster]], October 1940]] 
Once again Canada found itself at war before her neighbors, however even Canadian contributions were slight before the Japanese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]. The entry of the United States into the war helped to tip the balance in favor of the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]]. On August 19, 1942, a force of some 6000, largely Canadian, infantry was landed near the French channel port of [[Dieppe, Seine-Maritime|Dieppe]]. The German defenders under General von Rundstedt destroyed the invaders. 907 Canadians were killed and almost 2,500 captured (many wounded). Lessons learned in this abortive raid were put to good use 2 years later in the successful Normandy invasion.

Two Mexican tankers, transporting oil to the United States, were attacked and sunk by the Germans in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] waters, in 1942. The incident happened in spite of Mexico's neutrality at that time. This led Mexico to declare war on the Axis nations and enter the conflict.

The destruction of Europe wrought by the war vaulted all North American countries to more important roles in world affairs. The United States especially emerged as a "superpower".