By 1900 the U.S. had an overseas base network rivaling European colonial powers

Evidence

By the end of the nineteenth century, the United States thus had a collection of overseas bases matched in size and global scope by only a few European colonial powers. This base network pales in comparison to what would emerge from World War II. But in displaying American leaders’ ambitions for further economic, political, and military power, it presaged the base nation to come. — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 70

Categorization

Category: Factual Claims

Related

• The U.S. base network exceeds any prior empire’s footprint (similarity 0.88)
• Bases expanded American power far beyond the small territory they occupy. (similarity 0.86)
• Analyzing overseas bases reveals America’s economy runs on continuous war preparations. (similarity 0.85)
• Modest base acreage nonetheless gave the U.S. global reach (similarity 0.85)
• Postwar US military global reach exceeded that of any prior empire (similarity 0.85)
• The U.S. holds more foreign bases than any empire in history (similarity 0.84)
• The destroyers-for-bases deal transformed the US into a global military power. (similarity 0.84)
• The United States planned its postwar base network before Pearl Harbor. (similarity 0.84)
• Every empire since Portugal has eventually lost its foreign bases (similarity 0.84)
• Postwar US power substituted a global base network for direct colonial control (similarity 0.83)
• Overseas bases reveal America’s permanent war footing and militarized economy (similarity 0.83)
• Postwar decolonization forced the military to maintain colonies under new guises via bases (similarity 0.83)
• The overseas base network is what enables sustained distant warfare (similarity 0.83)
• Bases served a grand strategy of global economic access without colonies. (similarity 0.82)
• The U.S. can project force globally without any permanent overseas bases. (similarity 0.81)