Extra Credit Questions

[Rob Wick]

Can you be a democracy and subjugate other peoples of the world at the same time?

Of course you can. I believe a strong case can be made that American imperialism actually began with the idea of Manifest Destiny and the spreading of America across the West. America also did it after the Spanish-American War, when the United States exercised significant control over Cuba, annexed Hawaii, and claimed Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines as territories. To be sure, there was a large anti-imperialistic faction in the United States at the time, but it never really achieved the same standing as the forces of imperialism, namely TR, Albert J. Beveridge and Henry Cabot Lodge.

I'm assuming your question is more philosophical. It is too complicated to answer in a brief comment. Here is the transcript of a book discussion that appeared in 2019 on Fresh Air.

https://www.npr.org/2019/02/18/694700303...-bird-poop

Here is a link that discusses the evolution of American power through a digital exhibition.

https://dp.la/exhibitions/american-empir...ing-empire

Best
Rob