Summary: The Influence Of Sea Power

Explain Alfred T. Mahan's thesis concerning national power and its impact on the United States. Alfred Thayer Mahan’s novel, The Influence of Sea Power, tried to enforce the importance of naval dominance. He had believed that the nation’s eminence was inseparably associated with naval power. Other than mentioning that the country requires colonies to provide a geostrategic military, he says that the navy will provide a strong defense force against enemies trying to interfere with their trade, which would then disturb the economy and power. Mahan tried to enforce the idea that the sea is key to achieving world dominance, and America needed world power. The impact on the United States was that it “helped stimulate the naval race among the great powers that gained momentum around the turn of the century” (Kennedy, Cohen, Bailey 627). This meant that the thesis Mahan provided helped to begin the acknowledgement of the importance of sea power and the …show more content…
It was argued over whether they would follow the flag and American laws or not. Finally, the Supreme Court made a decision. Although badly divided, the verdict was that the American constitutional law, including the bill of rights, did not apply to those in Puerto Rico and the Philippines. So, as the textbook explains, “Puerto Ricans (and Filipinos) might be subject to American rule, but they did not enjoy all American rights” (Kennedy, Cohen, Bailey 640). The impact of this ruling was the distinction between incorporated territories and unincorporated territories. Incorporated territories, such as Hawaii and Alaska, would follow the constitution and flag. However, what this case established was that unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico and the Philippines, do not get such rights. Because U.S. sovereignty has not been established, the countries do not follow the law of the