Das heimliche Imperium

The territory of the USA is much larger than the official map shows. American historian Daniel Immerwahr reveals how a whole empire was built without the world noticing. The United States included (and still includes in part today) the Philippines and Puerto Rico, various islands in the Pacific, as well as parts of Samoa. Once colonies or annexed for the exploitation of resources, they were referred to as unincorporated territories of the USA after 1945. In captivating episodes, Immerwahr narrates the history of hidden US imperialism. He writes about human experiments in Puerto Rico, the Spanish-American War in the Philippines, which claimed a million lives, and the resource plundering in the Pacific. To exploit the guano deposits there, the US Congress passed a law in 1856 allowing US citizens to annex uninhabited islands for their country. Over 50 islands were added to US territory, some of which remain under American control to this day. It is an engagingly told piece of world history that shows: imperialism and globalization go hand in hand even today. It is time for the global community to finally overcome colonialism.