This book investigates the ideological motivations and political strategies of twelve prominent Americans who opposed the expansionist foreign policy of the United States following the Spanish-American War. Robert L. Beisner, a historian specializing in American foreign relations, utilizes archival correspondence, public speeches, and contemporary political records to reconstruct the anti-imperialist movement of 1898-1900. He argues that these figures, despite their disparate backgrounds, shared a common concern regarding the moral and constitutional implications of an American empire. The text examines how these individuals attempted to influence public opinion and government policy during a period of rapid national transition.

Historians frequently cite this work as a definitive study on the intellectual history of American anti-imperialism at the turn of the century. Readers often note the scholarly rigor and the clarity with which Beisner synthesizes complex political motivations.