This organization, prominent in the United States from 1898 to around 1921, opposed the nation’s policy of expanding its territorial holdings and influence through colonization and military conquest. Members believed that such actions contradicted fundamental American principles of self-government and consent of the governed, as articulated in the Declaration of Independence. Prominent figures associated with this movement included Andrew Carnegie, Mark Twain, and Jane Addams. They argued that imperialism was detrimental to both the colonized populations and to the United States itself, citing economic, moral, and political reasons for their opposition.
The significance of this group lies in its articulation of a dissenting viewpoint during a period of intense American expansionism. It provided a voice against the prevailing jingoism following the Spanish-American War, raising concerns about the costs and consequences of acquiring overseas territories like the Philippines. The organization’s arguments centered on the idea that imperialism undermined American democracy by creating a class of subject peoples without representation, and that it diverted resources away from domestic needs. Furthermore, they cautioned that engaging in imperial ventures would lead to entanglement in foreign conflicts, potentially threatening American security and stability.
