Two essays by Mark Twain that condemn American foreign expansion and the immorality of imperialism. Includes questions for discussion.

Take this five question quiz on South American expansion.

In the years following the American Revolution, speed was the most important consideration for any ship even if it came at the expense of cargo space. Sailing ships tended to be small and swift so that they could outrun and outmaneuver...

Read about the history of rebellions against Spanish rule and the leaders that led the independence movements in Mexico, Peru, Chile, and other Latin American countries.

This section of the excellent site on American presidents discusses the various domestic policies of William McKinley. Read about his policies on the gold standard, tariffs, civil service reform, and his lack of addressing race relations...

Six versions of the octopus, a pervasive image in late-nineteenth-century America, that illustrate the extensive and corrosive power held by corporations over American political and economic life. Reading guide with discussion questions.

A rich Fordham University site of primary source material that include full-text, and multimedia sites. There are additional study and research guides such as Modern History in the Movies.

Text of speech by William Jennings Bryan at the 1900 Democratic convention. Details his anti-imperialistic stance in terms of the U.S. involvement in the Philippines.

Eighteen primary sources-historical documents, literary texts, and visual images-that explore the industrial, racial, and technological progress of the late-nineteenth century.

Read about the attempts of the United States to remain neutral during World War I raging in Europe. Find out what finally made U.S. entrance into the war inevitable.

Enhanced by an introduction and commentary, read a speech given by U.S. President William McKinley to a delegation of Methodist church leaders in 1899 in which he defined the United States intervention in the Philippines as the proper...

With the purchase of Alaska in 1867, the United States embarked on the road of building an empire. From Alaska to the Spanish-American War to the Philippine Islands, the U.S. grew as an imperial nation throughout the latter half of the...

American desire for overseas expansion began as early as the purchase of Alaska from Russia. See what other actions were taken in the latter part of the 19th century, and find out why this imperialist view was taking hold.

Fighting broke out in the Philippines on the night of February 4th, 1899, after an American patrol shot a Filipino guerrilla.

Text of speech by George Hoar denouncing U.S. involvement in the Philippines.

This section of a chapter on "Imperial Reforms and Colonial Protests" discusses the status of Great Britain's North American colonies in the years directly following the French and Indian War, describes the size and scope of the British...

The Monroe Doctrine has been used in the past 180 years to let the United States' stance on European involvement in the Western Hemisphere be known. On this interesting site you can view an interactive copy of the original pages of the...

A thumbnail look at the many things occurring in the United States in the last half half of the 19th century. The topics covered are Gilded Age Politics, the "New Imperialism," Industrial America, Growth of Labor, Urbanization,...

At this site from the Library of Congress, you can take a look at this page for links to Philippine maps, a chronology for the Philippines and Guam during the war, and a collection of photos.

This site from the Mount Holyoke College provides a speech by President Calvin Coolidge discussing Americas intervention in Nicaragua during the early 20th Century. He talks about the political instability, revolutions, and the US presence.