In which geographical area did the US focus to expand its influence during the late 1800s and early 1900s?
History · High School · Mon Jan 18 2021
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- During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the United States focused on expanding its influence primarily in the Caribbean, Central America, and the Pacific region. This period is often associated with American imperialism, a policy aimed at extending the nation's economic, political, and military reach beyond its borders.
- In the Caribbean and Central America, the US sought to protect its strategic interests and maintain control over shipping routes, notably by building the Panama Canal, which facilitated quicker passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The 1823 Monroe Doctrine and later the Roosevelt Corollary were policies that justified American intervention in the region to prevent European powers from establishing a foothold.
- In the Pacific, the US acquired various territories such as Hawaii (which was annexed in 1898), Guam, and the Philippines following the Spanish-American War in 1898. By doing so, the US gained important naval bases that increased American presence in Asia, fostering trade with countries like China and Japan, and exerting political influence in the region.