Chapter 1 of From Liberation to Conquest discusses the historiography of US imperialism. It outlines different perspectives historians have taken in explaining the rise of the US as an empire in the late 19th/early 20th century. Some see it as a continuation of America's founding ideals of spreading democracy and liberty. Others view it more critically as driven by economic and geopolitical motivations, often at the expense of other peoples and nations. Race is also identified as a factor, with some arguing America's imperialism was justified by a belief in its racial superiority and duty to civilize other races. The chapter establishes the debate around US