Presidential Prerogatives and the American Empire

This chapter traces the historical development and expansion of the American Empire from its origins as a colonial empire to its current state as a global imperial superpower rivaling and surpassing the first Roman Empire through presidential prerogatives, doctrines, and aggressive US foreign policy initiatives up until the contemporary context. It begins by highlighting the essential paradox in the foundations of American history in terms of black slavery in the midst of white freedom. Starting with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the chapter presents the evolution of American imperialism from the Presidencies of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson up through World War II and the emergence of the contemporary American Empire and then all the way through to the post-Cold War Presidency of George W. Bush with the uncompromising war on terrorism. It demonstrates the intentional, purposeful, and self-conscious empire building on the part of the executive branch along with the perpetual and ongoing crushing of oppressed peoples of color since the original racist and white supremacist foundations of the American Empire.