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Introduction : four wars and the problem of empire -- The Philippines, 1899-1902 : the imperial impulse unleashed -- Japan, 1941-1945 : securing dominance -- Korea, 1950-1953 : dominance challenged -- Vietnam, 1965-1973 : dominance undone -- Conclusion : empire and aftermath

Repeatedly in the twentieth century, the United States has been involved in confrontations with other countries, each with the potential for widespread international and domestic upheaval, even disaster. In this book Michael Hunt focuses on seven such crises, presenting for each an illuminating introduction and a rich collection of original documents. His epilogue considers the nature of international crises and the U.S. record in dealing with them. The case studies include:•the American entry into World War I the Japanese-American rivalry that led to Pearl Harbor•the origins of the U.S.-Soviet Cold War•the collision between China and the United States during the Korean War•the confrontation over Soviet missiles in Cuba•Lyndon Johnsons commitment to war in Vietnam•and the American entanglement in the Iranian revolutionThe studies allow the reader to see U.S. foreign policymaking firsthand and to understand it as something that is shaped by interactions with other nations and leaders as well as by American values, attitudes, and needs. To provide an international perspective, both the narrative and the documents give as much attention to foreign policymakers as to their American counterparts, emphasizing the invariably dynamic, often confused, and sometimes chaotic interaction between the two sides

A simple question lurks amid the considerable controversy created by recent U.S. policy: what road did Americans travel to reach their current global preeminence? Taking the long historical view, Michael Hunt demonstrates that wealth, confidence, and leadership were key elements to America's ascent. In an analytic narrative that illuminates the past rather than indulges in political triumphalism, he provides crucial insights into the country's problematic place in the world today.

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Chapter 1. Systems -- Chapter 2. Persons -- Chapters 3. Sociality -- Chapter 4. Value -- Chapter 5. Deliberation -- Chapter 6. Free Speech -- Chapter 7. Conflict -- Chapter 8. Ecology -- Afterword -- Notes -- Index