Walter Nugent Bücher

Since its founding, the United States' declared principles of liberty and democracy have often clashed with aggressive policies of imperial expansion. In this sweeping narrative history, acclaimed scholar Walter Nugent explores this fundamental American contradiction by recounting the story of American land acquisition since 1782 and shows how this steady addition of territory instilled in the American people a habit of empire-building. From America's early expansions into Transappalachia and the Louisiana Purchase through later additions of Alaska and island protectorates in the Caribbean and Pacific, Nugent demonstrates that the history of American empire is a tale of shifting motives, as the early desire to annex land for a growing population gave way to securing strategic outposts for America's global economic and military interests. Thorough, enlightening, and well-sourced, this book explains the deep roots of American imperialism as no other has done.

The book offers a thorough exploration of the diverse populations that shaped the American West, tracing their evolution from Paleo-Indians and Spanish Conquistadors to displaced Okies and wartime African American immigrants. Nugent highlights the intersections and transformations of these groups, showcasing California's unique status as the most ethnically diverse state in the U.S. This social-demographic history provides a compelling narrative of how various communities contributed to the region's development.