Traces the author's explorations of U.S. territories including American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands to juxtapose their blends of culture against the expansionist views of the Founding Fathers.

A very brief note on the territories and their various designations -- The empire's new clothes: the Virgin Islands of the United States -- Foreign in a domestic sense: American Samoa -- Offshoring the American experience: Guam -- Land of opportunity: the Northern Mariana Islands -- Be true to your home: Puerto Rico -- The future of empire.