The connection to Manifest Destiny adds another layer of complexity. As you noted, the ideology was deeply controversial, with many Americans questioning its morality. The parallels between the U.S.’s forceful expansion and Keith’s economic imperialism highlight a shared disregard for ethical boundaries in the pursuit of profit and power. Both cases reveal how economic ambitions and political strategies can perpetuate systems of exploitation, raising important questions about the balance between progress and justice. Your perspective ties these threads together effectively, offering a nuanced critique of the era’s power structures.