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The Spanish-American War: The Leap into Overseas Empire, Part 1

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The Spanish-American War, whose centennial we observe this year, was a short war, a popular war, and a rather cheap war, both in lives and money. It was, as John Hay, soon to be secretary of state, put it, "a splendid little war." It was, however, fraught with long-range consequences. As an easy, successful war fought by professional soldiers and volunteers (not by conscripts), the war quickly entered the history books as a sort of youthful fling, an exuberant expression of a young America waking up to its potential as a world power and to its (alleged) global responsibilities. One immediate result of the war was the American-Philippine War (or as the United States called it, the Philippine "Insurrection"), which was much less happy and which disappeared from national memory until the ill-fated Vietnam War, to which it bore a certain resemblance. The forces behind the Spanish-American War were numerous. The Panic of 1893 and the ensuing economic depression energized ...

Machiavelli and U.S. Politics Part 5: War Crimes and Atrocities

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For Machiavelli, there is no deed too ruthless for rulers on the fast track to dictatorship. A prince who wishes to remain in power must not blink at opportunities for cruelty when they can advance his position. Consequently, in chapter 5, Machiavelli advises would-be princes to follow the example set by the ancient Romans in dealing with the Greek cities conquered by Rome as it gobbled up the Mediterranean world: were compelled to destroy many cities in that province so as to hold it. For in truth there is no secure mode to possess them other than to ruin them. And whoever becomes patron of a city accustomed to living free and does not destroy it, should expect to be destroyed by it; for it always has a refuge in rebellion in the name of ...

Machiavelli and U.S. Politics Part 4: War

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On the subject of war, Machiavelli offers simple advice (chapter 14): Thus a prince should have no other object, nor any other thought, nor take anything else as his art but that of war and its orders and discipline; for that is the only art which is of concern to one who commands. Again it is important to remember that Machiavelli’s chief concern is not the freedom or well-being of citizens. His sole interest is a ruler’s ability to acquire and maintain power. In contrast, James Madison, fourth president of the United States and author of the U.S. Constitution, enumerated the many evils caused by war: Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of ...