Template:POTD/2009-10-02
The cover of Puck from April 6, 1901, which depicts Columbia (the national personification of the United States) preening herself with an Easter bonnet in the form of a warship which bears the words "World Power". The bonnet plume resembles smoke and bears the word "Expansion" in reference to territorial gains of the Spanish–American War. Following that war the concept of American Empire was first popularized, raising questions of whether the U.S. was acting in an imperialistic manner. Debate continues a century later about whether current U.S. foreign policy is more imperialistic or more of a hegemony.Artist: Samuel D. Erhart; Restoration: Lise Broer