American Imperialism and the State, 1893–1921

by Colin D. Moore

How did the acquisition of overseas colonies affect the development of the American state? How did the constitutional system shape the expansion and governance of American empire? American Imperialism and the State offers a new perspective on these questions by recasting American imperial governance as an episode of state building. Colin D. Moore argues that the empire was decisively shaped by the efforts of colonial state officials to achieve greater autonomy in the face of congressional obstruction, public indifference and limitations on administrative capacity. Drawing on extensive archival research, the book focuses principally upon four cases of imperial governance - Hawai'i, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic and Haiti - to highlight the essential tension between American mass democracy and imperial expansion.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 17, 2017

Reviews

[Dwight Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moore's work makes an argument for the immense influence that more "behind the scenes" political operatives played in the development of American Empire in the early 20th century. Well researched and thought provoking, he outlines how on the ground knowledge, little congressional oversight, and geographical distance resulted in colonial policies that benefitted the metropole's elite at the expense of freedom of choice for the inhabitants of the Philippines, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and other arenas of American expansion.

All in all, this work is recommended for anyone with a working understanding of American Imperialism and political history surrounding the Progressive Era.