Designs on Empire: America's Rise to Power in the Age of European Imperialism

The United States became an empire in 1898 by taking possession of Cuba and the Philippines, sparking debates over whether it should be a colonial power. Andrew Priest's book Designs on Empire examines how observing and interacting with other empires shaped American understandings of the international environment and their own burgeoning power, highlighting ambivalence among American elites and notions of racial hierarchy.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 304 pages
\n Publication date: 31 August 2021
\n Publisher: Columbia University Press
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The United States' transformation into an empire in 1898 was a significant event that garnered attention from both contemporaries and historians. This momentous occasion was marked by the nation's acquisition of Cuba and the Philippines, which sparked debates about its status as a colonial power. However, the questions that arose in the aftermath of 1898 were rooted in longstanding and far-reaching debates about the Americas' place in the world.

In his book, Andrew Priest provides a fresh perspective on the origins of American empire by emphasizing the longer history of perceptions of European powers. Priest delves into the development of American thinking about European imperialism in the years following the Civil War, before the United States embarked on its own overseas colonial projects. Designs on Empire examines responses to various interventions by European powers, including Napoleon III's intervention in Mexico, Spain, and the Ten Years War in Cuba, Britain's occupation of Egypt, and the partitioning of Africa at the Berlin Conference.

Through his meticulous analysis, Priest demonstrates how observing and interacting with other empires shaped American understandings of the international environment and their own burgeoning power. He highlights the ambivalence among American elites regarding empire, as well as the prevalence of notions of racial hierarchy. While many deplored the dominance of powerful nations over others, others saw imperial projects as a means of advancing civilization, and even critics often found themselves aligning with European imperialists rather than colonized peoples.

Designs on Empire is a comprehensive book that blends intellectual, political, and diplomatic history. It sheds new light on the foundations of American power and provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics that shaped the nation's imperial aspirations. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of history and will be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone interested in the history of the United States and the broader world.

\n Weight: 432g\n
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 20 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780231197458\n \n