US Imperialism v. US Anti-Imperialism

I. Spanish-American War and Its Imperialist Aftermath

          A. War

          B. Treaty of Paris

          C. Insular Cases

II. Arguments for Imperialism

          A. Duty

          B. Self-Interest

                    1. Economics

                    2. Military

          C. History

III. Arguments against Imperialism

          A. Betrays US principles

          B. Effect on US itself

          C. History

IV. Counterarguments

            A. Imperialists

                    1. US principles

                    2. Effect on US itself

                    3. History

          B. Anti-Imperialists

                    1. Duty

                    2. Self-interest

                    3. History

V. Links with Heart of Darkness lectures

          A. Similarities

                    1. Nation/Empire dialectic

                    -- "Why if we hadn't decided [the Insular Cases] that

                        way, this country would not have been a nation" (Justice

                         White, 150).

                    2. Citizens v. nationals (racialized)

                    3. Savagery v. Civilization

          B. Differences

                    1. Racial situation in US helps to define policy with

                        respect to the colonies (165)

                              a. Civil equality

                              b. Political equality

                    2. US v. European nations

                              a. Spain

                              b. England?

VI. Genres of debate

          A. Variety of genres

          B. Literary techniques

                    1. "The White Man's Burden"

                      --"contains" opposing argument

                    2. "To the Person Sitting in Darkness"

                      --Satire diminishes a subject by making it ridiculous.

                          It can use irony, wit, and even sarcasm to evoke an

                         attitude of amusement, contempt, scorn, or indignation.

                         Whereas it can elicit laughter, it's goal is not simply

                         to amuse or to abuse, but to provoke a response, usually

                         a moral reform.

Conrad:

The horror at the heart of darkness is so terrible that it must be controlled politically, even if doing so imposes a form of civilization based on a lie, like the lie Marlow gives to Kurz’s intended at the end of the story (H of D, 75).

Twain:

Still has faith, however wavering, in the ability of people--all people, light and dark—to govern themselves. Why is that faith wavering? Because the US, with its mode of self-government—“a government of the people, by the people, for the people”— has embarked on a corrupt path of imperialism. He writes his satire, hoping to convince the US people to make the government alter its policy and thus prove that they know what responsible rule entails.