Book: How to Hide an Empire—A History of the Greater United States
Author: Dr. Daniel Immerwahr
Review by: Nancy Hollister, retired, formerly vice president of manufacturing for National Linen Service; current member of the International Club of Atlanta, ACIR and World Affairs Council of Atlanta.
How many of us think of the United States as an empire? I never have, and the narrative I have always been taught is that, as a former colony, the U.S. is absolutely opposed to colonialism in contrast to the British and historical empires of Europe. The story goes that we have been most committed to democracy and magnanimous in helping people all over the world strive for their independence.
And yet, Daniel Immerwahr, professor of history at Northwestern University, has demonstrated otherwise (in a nonjudgmental way) in his provocative and painstakingly researched 2019 bestseller, How to Hide an Empire—A History of the Greater United States.
The captivating title hooked me, and I was not disappointed.
The author begins his discussion with a look at Benedict Anderson’s “logo map”of the 48 contiguous states—framed by the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and Canada and Mexico. For years a similar representation of United States was used in atlases, books, periodicals and such.
Of course, this changed in 1959 when Alaska and Hawaii became states and have since been added. And yet, this newer map still “doesn’t match the country’s legal borders” as he so accurately points out. ndeed, given our aversion to the word “colony,” we use the word “territory” for the non-state entities that are denied fundamental rights such as representation or voting in the Congress.
In Immerwahr’s introduction, he provides the 1940 census of inhabited territories which illustrate the point. The number of territorial inhabitants was approximately 18.8 million compared to the mainland (48 contiguous states) which was 131.7 million.. This is no trivial amount. At the time, Alaska contained only 423,330 and Hawaii had just 72,524, but were included in these numbers, leaving well over 18 million people in other territories.
Immerwahr embarks on his narrative by outlining “three distinct historical time periods:
- Westward expansion
- Expansion that takes place off the continent which includes Caribbean and Pacific Islands, Alaska, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, Hawai’i, Wake Island, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands;
- After World War II where it gave up territory and added approximately 800 military bases.:
As one proceeds through these American epochs, some very unsettling facts emerge such as the part racism played, as well as extralegal domination, genocide, medical experimentation or our lack of support to the various peoples in these territories especially during wartime (e.g. Philippines in the initial phase of World War II) or natural disaster (Puerto Rico in 2017).
On the other hand, there is great discussion on why holding territory isn’t as necessary now, as a result of technological advancements made during World War II and the years that followed. Also, the book looks at how we have managed to cement our place in the world through industrial standardization and currency. Perhaps a little more discussion of our competitors’ part in this history would have enhanced my understanding.
In conclusion, I recommend this book to Global Atlanta members. It has opened my eyes in many, many ways and I feel I have a much better understanding of our history, the part our territories have played and why we need do a better job in the future.
Editor’s note: See another review of How to Hide an Empire from 2019 here: How and Why ‘My Fellow Americans’ Resounds Across the Pacific
Read previous reviews by Nancy Hollister:
Books 2021: Under MBS, Saudi Arabia Makes Halting Progress Amid Rapid Change
Books 2020: Remembering the Eastern European Bloodlands Between Hitler and Stalin
Books 2016: A History of Foreign Relations in Communist-Led China
Book Reviews 2012: Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman, Robert K. Massey
Editor’s notes: Global Atlanta will receive a 10 percent commission on any purchase of this book through the links on this page.
Each year, Global Atlanta asks influential readers and community leaders to review the most impactful book they read during the course of the year. This endeavor has continued annually since 2010.
See last year’s full list of books on BookShop here, and all 2021 reader picks here.
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