Transatlantic dimensions of the American anti-imperialist movement, 1899–1909

Michael Cullinane

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The common perception of the American anti-imperialist movement that opposed US expansion after the Spanish–American War is one that was driven by domestic concerns like economics, security and political traditions. While this was certainly a component, there also existed a transnational element that was not spurred by domestic motives, but rather by the international context. Two particular contexts captured the attention of anti-imperialists in these years: the Boer War and the reform of the Congo Free State. The anti-imperialists presented the Boer War as a challenge to traditional US notions of republican brotherhood and as a test of the Anglo-American relationship. In the case of the Congo, they argued that the atrocities in that territory were a challenge to the American understanding of human rights. Both cases also exhibit the development of the Anglo-American relationship and international context that was central to anti-imperialism.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)301-314
JournalJournal of Transatlantic Studies
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • anti-imperialism
  • Boers
  • Congo
  • militarism
  • human rights

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