Empire of Influence #18

Описание: “Empire of Influence” #18
What if the most powerful empire in history never called itself an empire? In this episode of What's In My History Box?, we uncover the hidden mechanics of the American Empire—an empire not built on colonies, but on military bases, economic dominance, and cultural hegemony. From the Treaty of Paris in 1898 to the global reach of U.S. corporations and military installations, we explore how America reshaped the world without the traditional trappings of conquest.
Was U.S. expansion a reluctant inheritance or a deliberate strategy? How does an empire survive without acknowledging itself? And in the end, is influence more powerful than ownership? Join us as we unpack the history, debates, and hidden artifacts of America’s empire—one that rules not by force alone, but by persuasion, economics, and presence.

1. Secondary Sources
These books provide various interpretations of U.S. imperialism, from Manifest Destiny to modern global dominance.
Anders Stephanson, Manifest Destiny: American Expansion and the Empire of Right (1995) – A critical analysis of Manifest Destiny’s ideological roots.
Frederick Jackson Turner, The Significance of the Frontier in American History (1893) – The classic "Frontier Thesis," which shaped early views on American expansion.
Walter LaFeber, The New Empire: An Interpretation of American Expansion, 1860–1898 (1963) – Examines economic motivations behind U.S. imperialism.
Kristin Hoganson, Fighting for American Manhood: How Gender Politics Provoked the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars (1998) – A cultural perspective on empire and masculinity.
Daniel Immerwahr, How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States (2019) – Argues that U.S. imperialism is often overlooked in traditional narratives.
John Darwin, After Tamerlane: The Global History of Empire Since 1405 (2007) – Places U.S. expansion within the broader history of empire.
Niall Ferguson, Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire (2004) – Examines whether the U.S. should be considered an empire.
Amy Kaplan, The Anarchy of Empire in the Making of U.S. Culture (2002) – Explores cultural and literary aspects of U.S. imperialism.
Alfred W. McCoy, Policing America’s Empire: The United States, the Philippines, and the Rise of the Surveillance State (2009) – Focuses on U.S. imperialism in the Philippines.

2. Primary Sources
These primary documents reflect key moments in the history and debates of U.S. imperialism.
John L. O’Sullivan, Annexation (1845) – The original article advocating Manifest Destiny.
William McKinley’s War Message to Congress (April 1898) – Justifies war with Spain over Cuba and the Philippines.
The Platt Amendment (1901) – Establishes U.S. control over Cuba despite formal independence.
The Anti-Imperialist League Platform (1899) – Criticizes U.S. expansionism as a betrayal of democratic values.
Alfred Thayer Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History (1890) – Key strategic argument for overseas expansion.
The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (1904) – Declares the U.S. as the Western Hemisphere’s policing power.
Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points (1918) – Presents an anti-imperial vision but maintains American global influence.
The Treaty of Paris (1898) – Ends the Spanish-American War and transfers Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S.
Emilio Aguinaldo’s Proclamation Against U.S. Occupation (1899) – A Filipino nationalist response to U.S. imperialism.
3. Articles & Academic Papers
Walter LaFeber, “The Spanish-American War and the Rise of American Imperialism” – Classic article on U.S. expansionism.
Paul Kramer, “Race-Making and Colonial Violence in the U.S. Empire: The Philippine-American War as Race War,” Diplomatic History (2006).
Amy Kaplan, “Where is Guantánamo?” American Quarterly (2005) – Explores the history of U.S. military bases and imperialism.
Stephen Kinzer, “The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire” – Discusses the public debate over U.S. empire.
Greg Grandin, “The Empire’s Workshop: Latin America, the United States, and the Rise of the New Imperialism” – U.S. influence in Latin America.