Imperialism is as slippery a word as liberty, and perhaps more controversial. Dictionaries describe it as a policy of extending power - but imperialism is more than a practice or policy. Lenin called imperialism a "stage" - the last in the life-cycle of capitalism. More recently Antonio Negri and Michael Hardt have defined imperialism as the colonial extension of national sovereignty.

We will continue to grapple with the definition of the term, but regardless of its meaning, imperialism for the United States has most often been seen as anathema to the national identity. Created quite purposely to contrast the imperialism of the British Empire.

Even so, the US extended its territorial sovereignty from the very start of its existance. The 1783 Treaty of Paris ended the War of Independence at once and concurrently expanded the territorial reach of the original colonies to the Northwest Territory. Twenty years later, Jefferson's purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France doubled the territory of the US. Acquisition continued with Florida in 1817, Texas in 1845, the Oregon Territory in 1846, the Mexican territories in 1848, and Alaska in 1867. The US was an empire before 1898 when it acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, and other outlying islands.

In the twentieth century, the term imperialism was introduced more regularly in foreign policy debates. Throughout the twentieth century the notion is not merely associated with territorial acquisition and colonialism, but also as economic domincance which creates dependence, and cultural hegemony. These reinventions of imposition further challenge the definition of imperialism and its reach.

The twenty-first century is not without its own reinventions. Malaysia's deputy Foreign Minister in June, 2007 accused the United States and others of "Green Imperialism," by pressuring developing nations to adopt environmental standards.

Contextualizing Imperialism

Like liberty, imperialism is best understood in a historical context.

Although this site will devote much of its attention to the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, please examine the broader precedent and consequences. Over the next year the site will provide like to internet resources in order to expand the context of American Empire into other historical genres.

The Context of Empire 1600-1770

The Context of Empire 1770-1836

The Context of Empire 1836-1877

The Context of Empire 1877-1898

The Context of Empire 1898-1905

The Context of Empire 1905-1921

The Context of Empire 1921-1945

The Context of Empire 1945-1991

The Twenty-First Century Context of Empire

M. Patrick Cullinane, Liberty and Anti-Imperialism, June 22, 2007.

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