The Evolution of the Imperial Idea and U.S. National Identity
Author(s)
Heiss, Mary Ann
Abstract
The U.S., a nation born of revolution and the denouncement of empire, has often been viewed a proponent of self-realization and anti-colonial sentiments. This position on empire has not been consistently realized in U.S. foreign policy, however. At times, the U.S. has worked to perpetuate colonial institutions that favored its policies or provided what was perceived to be a necessary balance in international relations. This essay explores the changing U.S. thinking on the imperial idea and relates that thinking to prevailing conceptions of U.S. national identity.
