A major factor in the shift in American foreign policy toward imperialism in the late nineteenth century was the
A) need to justify substantially decreased expenditures including the reduction of the navy.
B) desire for more farmland.
C) construction of an American-built isthmian canal between the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean.
D) closing of the frontier.
E) need for overseas markets for increased industrial and agricultural production.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The shift toward imperialism was driven by the need for overseas markets to accommodate the increased industrial and agricultural production in the United States. A need for increased overseas markets arose when domestic markets became saturated and there was a need to expand business interests beyond national borders in order to grow the economy. This need was further compounded by the depression in 1893, which led to calls for expansionist policies to stimulate economic growth.

A Major Factor in the Shift in American Foreign Policy