Settler colonialism, which is what this is, is by far the worst kind of imperialism, because it gets rid of the native population.

Imperialism''s deep roots.The United States was established as an empire, characterized by settler colonialism that aimed to eliminate the native population, a process the Founding Fathers explicitly described. This differs from other forms of imperialism that primarily exploit local populations. The "saltwater fallacy" often obscures this history, defining imperialism only when crossing oceans, ignoring the brutal expansion across the continent.

Expansion continued abroad.Once continental expansion reached its limits, U.S. imperialism immediately extended overseas, notably in 1898 with the conquest of Cuba (preventing its self-liberation), the theft of Hawaii, and the invasion of the Philippines, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and establishing a lasting neocolonial structure. This expansion solidified the U.S. as a global power, a position dramatically amplified after World War II when it held half the world''s wealth.

Modern forms persist.While the U.S. share of global wealth has stabilized since 1970, its imperial policies continue, adapting to a more multipolar world. Despite talk of decline, the U.S. maintains military dominance and reacts forcefully to challenges, such as Latin America''s recent moves toward integration and independence, by increasing military presence and training local officers to counter "radical populism." Geostrategic interests, like controlling energy resources and pipeline routes, also drive interventions in regions like Afghanistan.