Summary Of The Empire And The People By Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn’s unique perspective on American history and the beloved American heroes makes for an interesting story. His book, A People's History of the United States, paints history in a whole new light. While most teachers tell the story of the huge period of depression and under consumption, the side that Zinn shows in the 12th chapter of his book “The Empire and the People”, tells of the differing views of American imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He also uses other like-minded historians like Mahan, Lodge, Beveridge, Lafeber, Sage, and Foner and historical events such as the Spanish-Cuban-American War, the Teller Amendment, the Monroe Doctrine, and the sinking of the Maine battleship to support his claims. These claims

Zinn’s views are controversial, but with the many direct quotes by renowned historians, it makes his point more accountable. He begins his chapter by explaining that the Monroe Doctrine provided basis for American interference with other nations in Central America, which later prompted interest in other nations in the eastern hemisphere since people like Cpt. Mahan believed that “the countries with the biggest navies would inherit the earth.” Senator Henry Cabot Lodge also promoted expansionism because otherwise the United States would fall behind other world powers in development. For as he stated “the great nations are rapidly absorbing for their future expansion and their present defense all the waste places of the earth. It is a movement which makes for civilization and the advancement of the race.” Lodge saw expansion as something that would constantly remain beneficial to the United States. Zinn claims that this common theme was not merely a shared ideal, but rather a planned move by the elite and governing class because a Roosevelt historian said, “By 1890, Lodge, Roosevelt, and Mahan had begun exchanging views,” and they tried to get Mahan to not work “so

Fate has written our policy for us; the trade of the world must and shall be ours.” Historian Lafeber, author of The New Empire, writes, “By 1893, American trade exceeded that of every country in the world except England. Farm products, of course, especially in the key tobacco, cotton, and wheat areas, had long depended heavily on international markets for their prosperity.” Therefore, Lafeber justifies the need for international commerce on behalf of the wealthy farmers who benefitted from the trading. These government officials promoted their idea of expansion as a form of salvation that would benefit the nation and keep it out of depression. Zinn goes on to argue that the idea of peaceful conquest that some called for was not an option as “if peaceful imperialism turned out to be possible, military action might be needed.” This was attempted in Cuba and the government only “had power and profit in mind” when observing the effects. This thereby proves Zinn’s stance that businessmen and elitists sought expansion for themselves. However, war again was proven to be necessary as the