America's motivation for expansionism in the 19th and early 20th centuries can be explained by several key factors:
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Manifest Destiny: The belief that it was the United States' divine right and destiny to expand its territory across North America. This ideology fueled both political and public support for expansion.
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Economic Interests: Expanding territory meant access to new resources, markets, and land for agriculture. This was particularly important during times of economic growth and industrialization.
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Strategic Interests: Expansion was often seen as a way to enhance national security and increase America's global influence, especially in the context of competition with European powers.
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Cultural Superiority: Many Americans believed in the superiority of their democratic institutions and way of life and felt it was their duty to spread these values to other peoples.
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Political Factors: Political leaders and parties often used expansionism as a way to rally support and unify the nation around common goals.
In summary, America's expansionism was motivated by a combination of ideological beliefs (like Manifest Destiny), economic needs, strategic considerations, cultural beliefs, and political objectives.
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