The Forging of the American Empire: From the Revolution to Vietnam: A History of American ImperialismPluto Press, 2003 M06 20 - 464 pages From Mexico to Vietnam, from Nicaragua to Lebanon, and more recently to Kosovo, East Timor and now Iraq, the United States has intervened in the affairs of other nations. Yet American leaders continue to promote the myth that America is benevolent and peace-loving, and involves itself in conflicts only to defend the rights of others; excesses and cruelties, though sometimes admitted, usually are regarded as momentary aberrations.This classic book is the first truly comprehensive history of American imperialism. Now fully updated, and featuring a new introduction by Howard Zinn, it is a must-read for all students and scholars of American history. Renowned author Sidney Lens shows how the United States, from the time it gained its own independence, has used every available means - political, economic, and military - to dominate other nations.Lens presents a powerful argument, meticulously pieced together from a huge array of sources, to prove that imperialism is an inevitable consequence of the U.S. economic system. Surveying the pressures, external and internal, on the United States today, he concludes that like any other empire, the reign of the U.S. will end -- and he examines how this time of reckoning may come about. |
Contents
The Myth of Morality | 1 |
Forgotten Ally | 15 |
Fallen Star | 40 |
Copyright | |
20 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
The Forging of the American Empire: From the Revolution to Vietnam: A ... Sidney Lens Limited preview - 2003 |
Common terms and phrases
Adams alliance Allies Ameri American annexation army Bank became bomb Britain British called Canada chief China colonies Communists Congress Cuba Cuban decade defeat defense Democratic diplomacy dollar diplomacy dollars East economic elections empire England Europe exports fighting Filipino Florida force foreign France French Germany Haiti House imperialism independence Indians industry intervention island J. P. Morgan Jackson Japan Jefferson John killed land later Latin America leaders loans March markets Marshall Plan ment Mexican Mexico military million months Morgan nation naval navy Nicaragua North North Vietnam Panama Pax Americana peace percent Philippines Platt Amendment political Polk ports President regime Republic revolution Roosevelt Russia Secretary seized Senate ships South Soviet Union Spain Spanish sphere of influence Taft Tecumseh territory Texas tion trade treaty troops Truman Uncle Uncle Sam United Vietminh Vietnam vote Washington West William Wilson wrote York