The American Empire

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27787

Title

The American Empire

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Scott Nearing critiques the betrayal of American democratic ideals by industrial plutocracy. This 1921 text argues that the pursuit of empire and unchecked capitalism has transformed the United States into a world power that sacrifices worker liberties and global peace for profit, urging a shift toward a worker-controlled economic system.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'The American Empire,' Scott Nearing presents a stark critique of early 20th-century America, arguing that the nation has abandoned its 1776 democratic promise in favor of an imperial destiny driven by industrial consolidation. Nearing contrasts the original ideals of liberty, equality, and self-government with the reality of a plutocratic society where massive corporations like Standard Oil and the National City Bank dominate the economy. He details how these entities have expanded globally, creating an economic structure that necessitates military force and political control to protect profits, effectively transforming the United States into a 'New Germany.' Nearing traces this trajectory from the subjugation of Native Americans and the institution of slavery to modern financial imperialism. He illustrates the growth of American business empires, noting how banks and manufacturers have established extensive foreign branches in Europe, Asia, and Latin America since the outbreak of World War I. This expansion, he argues, is not voluntary but an inexorable economic fate that compels American interests to seek new markets and resources abroad. The book warns that this imperial path leads inevitably to war and destruction. Nearing asserts that the 'price' of empire is paid by the working class, not the ruling elite. Workers face the loss of civil liberties, conscription, poverty, and the burden of producing surplus wealth they cannot consume. He draws parallels between the American situation and the experiences of workers in the German and British empires, who were forced to sacrifice their lives and freedoms for imperial ambitions they did not choose. Ultimately, Nearing challenges American workers to reject this imperial destiny. He points to the labor movements in Europe, which sought to control their own economic lives, as a model for the United States. He concludes that the only viable alternative to the current system of masters and exploited workers is the establishment of a new economic system managed by the producers for their own benefit. By following the imperial trail, Nearing warns, the United States risks isolation and death, losing both its liberties and its lives to the insatiable hunger of the ruling class.

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4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Politics