Between 1857 and 1903, the United States acquired many new territorial possessions around the globe.
Why do you think so many of these new possessions were islands located in the Pacific Ocean?
So that they could stop their ships there and refuel them. Also, most of the other areas were already controlled by other countries.
2 answers
I agree the second sentence. First is not a good reason. I would add during that time, the US was looking outward to "discover" the world and its riches...the Pacific was really the only direction to go.
Ok so i should take out the part about the ships ?