During the Nativism and Spanish American War lecture prof Boggs brought up the similarities to the Spanish American War and the War in Iraq. Both were about America expanding its influence beyond it’s borders.
Why would a nation care about expanding it influence abroad? Is because Dick Cheney is power hungry despot, is it because Americans demand cheaper oil and gas prices? Access to the markets in China, in the case of the Spanish American War? Maybe…but…
The War in Iraq is not completely about spreading democracy, or completely about finding new markets. Its about preserving our way of life. Democracy leads to individualism…Which leads to choice…Which leads to consumerism…Which leads to capitalism…Which leads to furthering and protecting our way of life, whatever that is. How so? Its hadard to want to fight someone if you have a job, want to live a comfortable life. Free trade and free market economies leads to insuring our way of life.
The same could be argued for the Spanish American War.
