The Road to Expansion

On January 1, 1900, The Washington Post enthusiastically voiced support for the new century’s overseas colonial endeavors: "They are ours. All arguments against expansion are as dull and laughable as the chatter of magpies." On January 1, 1901, a British newspaper published an article welcoming the arrival of the new century: "We have reason to believe that by the end of the twentieth century, Britain and her descendants will, as they did at the end of the nineteenth century, triumphantly withstand the severe tests ahead. By then, they will live and prosper for generations as a unified imperial nation, becoming a fortress of human civilization." Despite the two catastrophic "collective suicides" in Europe that followed, real history unfolded quite differently from the imperialists' optimistic expectations.

Yet, the trend of Western dominance over the world remained unmistakable - until now that is.