The US meanwhile has an overseas empire for honestly no good reason.
Highly recommend the book “How to hide an empire” which talks about the American version of colonialism.
Ok? They were still an imperial power. Having a stable border for a little while doesn't affect that definition.
> The US meanwhile has an overseas empire for honestly no good reason.
Same for the first part you're commenting on, that was in direct response to the thread.
If everyone voluntarily refused to touch boats and only trade oil for dollars we may have invested differently.
The US didn't become economically dominant until after the first World War, when it already had an overseas empire for half a century.
If it was referencing history prior to that then I would reply with the as you mentioned guano mines, fruit production, and keeping European powers out of our regional backyard after several scuffles with Spain and Britain at minimum.
I’d also mention the boat touching still.
The Marine’s Hymn doesn’t mention the Halls of Montezuma and the Shores of Tripoli for no reason.