American Empires
from History As It Happens Hosted by Martin Di Caro
Subscribe today for ad-free listening and early access! Since returning to the White House in 2025, President Trump has threatened to annex Greenland by force, mused about making Canada the 51st state, claimed he was ready to retake the Panama Canal, and turned Venezuela into a vassal by kidnapping its leader. Trump is trying to turn the clock back to a time when annexation (or territorial expansionism) was a norm in international relations. Since its birth, the United States has been expansionist, but its conduct has taken on different forms over time. In this episode, author Mark Kawar traces the historical shift from annexationism to global influence through alliances, trade relations, and military bases. It's what some call hegemony, others imperialism. Recommended reading: America, but Bigger: Near Annexations from Greenland to Galapagos by Mark Kawar Why America Stopped Annexing Territory by Mark Kawar (article in Law & Liberty) Go to historyasithappens.com to learn more.
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