This groundbreaking four-volume encyclopedia offers sweeping coverage of a subject central to American history and of urgent importance today as the nation wrestles with a global imperial posture and the long-term viability of the largest military establishment in human history. The work features more than 650 entries encompassing the full scope of American expansionism and imperialism from the colonial era through the 21st-century “War on Terror.”

Readers will learn about U.S.-Native American conflicts; 19th-century land laws; early forays overseas, for example, the opening of Japan; and America’s imperial conflicts in Cuba and the Philippines. U.S. interests in Latin America are explored, as are the often-forgotten ambitions that lay behind the nation’s involvement in the World Wars. The work also offers extensive coverage of the Cold War and today’s ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and the Middle East as they relate to U.S. national interests. Notable individuals, including American statesmen, military commanders, influential public figures, and anti-imperialists are covered as well. The inclusion of cultural elements of American expansionism and imperialism—for example, Hollywood films and protest music—helps distinguish this set from other more limited works.

Features

• Overviews the history of American imperialism through chronologically arranged entries that are multidisciplinary, incisively written, and informed by the latest scholarship
• Covers issues ranging from the fur trade of the frontier era to today's complex engagement in the Middle East and Africa
• Shares key insights on the intersection of popular culture with the projection of U.S. military power
• Includes background material and an extensive selection of primary documents that will help students practice critical reading, thinking, and writing skills
• Features numerous photos, illustrations, and sidebars that enliven the text and engage students in participatory learning