this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2026
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The 250 year timeframe is made up and even if it wasn't the US couldn't realistically be described as an empire until some time in the 1900's. Until then it was "just" a genocidal colonial power like the others. I guess you could make an argument that it became an empire around the time of Teddy or the monroe doctrine, but I wouldnt
i'd say the end of ww2 cemented them as the empire. the monroe doctrine was hemispheric domination as the precursor to global domination.
every other strong world power was weak from the war and they just swooped in and claimed the actual victory and all the spoils to themselves.
I would say probably the Spanish-American War.
Remember: the Maine was a pretense for continued expansionism.