Question

A major factor leading to U.S. imperialism in the 1890s was ____.

• A. a political shift as the Democratic Party gained power at the expense of the Republican Party.
• B. the opportunity created for the United States as European powers began to move away from imperialist expansion and focus on internal development.
• C. the desire for new markets as industrial production outpaced domestic consumption.
• D. the need to find new lands to absorb the expanding population of the United States.
• E. a desire for fertile land, as farmland on the American mainland was becoming depleted.

Answer 1

The correct option is C the desire for new markets as industrial production outpaced domestic consumption.

By 1890's USA emerged as a new imperialist power, joining the Europeans in the search of colonies in 1881, it conquered the Hawaiian Islands. In 1893, it declared hegemony over the American continent by taking over Venezuela and British Guinea. In 1898, the US went to War with Spain and took over Cuba and Puerto Rico. It also captured the Guam Island in Pacific from the Spanish. US also demanded its share in China by the 'open door policy'. When the Boxer rebellion broke out in China, the US troops joined the troops of the European countries in suppressing it and in occupying Beijing. It entered into a secret alliance with Japan which gave US the right to trade freely in Japan. Through President Roosevelt's Monroe Doctrine U.S. also got the right to intervene in the internal affairs of her neighbouring countries such as Latin America.