The Forging of the American Empire: A History of American Imperialism from the Revolution to Vietnam

... to be read alongside the one given him by Hugo Chavez, it might well be this classic account of "Manifest Destiny" and American hegemonism in Latin America. It tells a large part of the same uncomfortable story as Eduardo Galeano's "Open Veins", but from the 'inside' of American foreign policy, both that of the federal government and that of the economic powers which have played easily as large a role as the State Department. This is a fiercely critical and admittedly one-sided book, a portrayal of the USA as an inveterately expansionist nation, a 'greedy' neighbor and a bully. The portrayal is accurate. I hasten to add that it's not the whole story of America; there are many reasons to be proud of this country and many accomplishments, foreign and domestic, that justify patriotism. Unfortunately, there is very little to be proud of in America's history of conduct toward Latin America, from its early reluctance to support the struggle for liberation from Spain and France of its southern colonial neighbors, to its eternally shameful support for Pinochet and the Nicaraguan "contras." If Lens has written an 'anti-American' book, it would at least behove Americans to be as knowledgeable as he is about the sorry events he reports. The indigenous "Indian" peoples, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba all suffered the largest consequences of American expansionism in the 19th Century. Lens recounts both the rhetoric and the actions of Manifest Destiny from Jefferson to McKinley in the first half of his book. Beginning with chapter 11 - Subduing the Banana Republics - he castigates the huge leap in imperialism during the administrations of Republican Theodore Roosevelt and Democrat Woodrow Wilson. According to Lens, the precedents TR and WW set continued to dominate American policy toward Latin America right through the time of his writing (in 1974). I doubt that he would find much change if he were to write an update of policies from Nixon and Carter to Clinton and Bush II. Above all, this is not a partisan book; neither major party earns much respect from Sidney Lens. Is Lens unfair? Is he just an unrepentant Leftist tearing down our beloved republic? I suggest that you read the book before offering any ideological condemnations of it.

Why is America the sole superpower in the world today? Sidney Lens' book helps the reader answer this question, by looking at the history of the United States from the colonial era through the Cold War and Vietnam. At the heart of U.S. foreign policy lays a desire for American supremacy over the world-this much is painfully clear today in light of the Iraq war. But Lens traces this thread back to the founding of America, taking a critical look at the territorial expansion of the U.S. on native lands, the occupation of Cuba and the Philippines, the "open door" economic policy in Asia and the war profiteering during both world wars. Whether it's the Spanish-American war or the Cold War, readers can see many reflections of the past in the actions of governments today. "The Forging of the American Empire" is no mere historical narrative, it's a chronicle written so that we can understand what drives the present era of wars and globalization. Lens' radical, materialist approach to the history of the United States is refreshing, cogent and comprehensive. It does an excellent job explaining foreign policy, but this leaves little room for domestic affairs and opposition to U.S. imperialism. I recommend checking out Howard Zinn's book alongside this one, for anyone who really wants to understand why America goes to war or bullies weaker nations. (This is a reprint of the classic Vietnam War-era text that Lens wrote to help guide his fellow antiwar activists in a previous generation. Howard Zinn's introduction updates the book through 2003.)

For all those folks who loved Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States, this is a great companion piece. Written toward the end of the Vietnam War, It is nothing short of the most comprehensive history of America's adventure's abroad ever written, starting with the conquest of the continent and moving on to the birth of the United States as a world power, and finishing off with the Cold War and the US entry in Vietnam. Along the way it debunks a lot of myths. I think that any activists who is trying to figure out why the U.S. does what it does overseas can profitably start with Lens.