William Earl Weeks is Lecturer in History at San Diego State University. He is the author of John Quincy Adams and American Global Empire (1992) and Building the Continental Empire, 1815–1861, and co-editor of American Foreign Relations since 1600: A Guide to the Literature (2003).

• 1. Origins of the American empire and union; 2. A perilous union, 1783–96; 3. The 'Empire of Liberty' on land and sea; 4. Towards hemispheric superiority; 5. Freedom's empire; 6. Expansionist vistas: Canada, Oregon, California and Texas; 7. Bullying Britain, conquering Mexico, claiming the canal; 8. Disunion; 9. The imperial crisis, 1861–5.

'William Weeks is to be congratulated on his concise and masterful synthesis relating the rise of the American republic. His account provides the best explanation we have of how the concept of 'empire' can integrate both external and internal developments in the formative era of American history. Teachers and students alike will both admire and benefit greatly from the skill with which Weeks accomplishes this task.' J. C. A. Stagg, University of Virginia

William Earl Weeks is Lecturer in History at San Diego State University. He is the author of John Quincy Adams and American Global Empire (1992) and Building the Continental Empire, 1815–1861, and co-editor of American Foreign Relations since 1600: A Guide to the Literature (2003).

• 1. Origins of the American empire and union; 2. A perilous union, 1783–96; 3. The 'Empire of Liberty' on land and sea; 4. Towards hemispheric superiority; 5. Freedom's empire; 6. Expansionist vistas: Canada, Oregon, California and Texas; 7. Bullying Britain, conquering Mexico, claiming the canal; 8. Disunion; 9. The imperial crisis, 1861–5.

'William Weeks is to be congratulated on his concise and masterful synthesis relating the rise of the American republic. His account provides the best explanation we have of how the concept of 'empire' can integrate both external and internal developments in the formative era of American history. Teachers and students alike will both admire and benefit greatly from the skill with which Weeks accomplishes this task.' J. C. A. Stagg, University of Virginia

William Earl Weeks is Lecturer in History at San Diego State University. He is the author of John Quincy Adams and American Global Empire (1992) and Building the Continental Empire, 1815–1861, and co-editor of American Foreign Relations since 1600: A Guide to the Literature (2003).

• 1. Origins of the American empire and union; 2. A perilous union, 1783–96; 3. The 'Empire of Liberty' on land and sea; 4. Towards hemispheric superiority; 5. Freedom's empire; 6. Expansionist vistas: Canada, Oregon, California and Texas; 7. Bullying Britain, conquering Mexico, claiming the canal; 8. Disunion; 9. The imperial crisis, 1861–5.

'William Weeks is to be congratulated on his concise and masterful synthesis relating the rise of the American republic. His account provides the best explanation we have of how the concept of 'empire' can integrate both external and internal developments in the formative era of American history. Teachers and students alike will both admire and benefit greatly from the skill with which Weeks accomplishes this task.' J. C. A. Stagg, University of Virginia