However, in his chapters on the first World War and on Woodrow Wilson, Immerwahr notes that the U.S. fought against the Spanish empire, winning the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and access to Cuba. Immerwahr then shifts his narrative to a description of American empire abroad, a project that began almost immediately following westward expansion. as it appears today was not always guaranteed. In the opening chapters, Immerwahr reviews the debate surrounding westward expansion in the U.S, reminding readers that the map of the continental U.S. The book follows roughly this schema, focusing mostly on the second and third “Acts” described above.

In the introduction to the book, Immerwahr recounts his belief that “the history of the Greater United States” can be told in roughly three acts: (1) westward expansion and the displacement of Native Americans (2) acquisition of non-contiguous territories, including Alaska, Hawai’i, the Philippines, and so forth and (3) the country’s decision, following the Second World War, to distance itself from empire. Though the book moves seamlessly between the different locations within the American empire, it follows American history in a roughly chronological fashion. The book is broken into two parts, with the first titled “The Colonial Empire” and the second titled “The Pointillist Empire.” The book argues that the country’s imperial possessions-including the Philippines at one time, Puerto Rico, Guam, and others-have influenced the trajectory of the country’s economic and political power in the world. How to Hide an Empire is a non-fiction book by Daniel Immerwahr telling the story of the United States as an empire.

This study guide is based on the following version of the book: Immerwahr, Daniel.

Daniel immerwahr how to hide an empire