Empire 168. Teddy Roosevelt Takes on the Old World
5 snips
Jul 15, 2024 Joining the discussion is Daniel Immerwahr, a Northwestern University history professor and author of "How to Hide an Empire." He dives into Teddy Roosevelt's controversial initiation of the Spanish-American War during an osteopathic break. The talk explores Cuba's crucial economic role and the moral dilemmas of American imperialism. They highlight Roosevelt's dynamic persona and the jingoism that fueled war fever, alongside reflections on the lasting impacts of this conflict on U.S. identity and colonial ambitions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
End of the Frontier
- The U.S. had a history of conflicts with indigenous people, ending with the Battle of Sugar Point in 1898.
- This led to anxieties about the end of the frontier and potential limits to U.S. growth.
Cuba's Importance to Early U.S. Expansionism
- Cuba was a Spanish colony for centuries, but by the 1890s, its economic ties were shifting towards the United States.
- Founding fathers, like Thomas Jefferson, saw Cuba as key to U.S. expansion, not westward expansion.
Cuba's Economy and Inequality
- Cuba's economy, based on sugar and tobacco, was one of the richest in the Americas in the 18th and 19th centuries.
- However, this wealth was unevenly distributed, with enslaved people and impoverished laborers supporting a wealthy elite.
