In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States transitioned from isolationism and continental expansion to imperialism. The main motivations and factors that led to this were economic, exploratory, political, religious and ethnocentric. During this period the colonists provided cheap raw materials and guaranteed markets for European and US trusts and monopolies. This era was one in which late 19th century imperialism was criticized as a capitalist scheme in which colonies were subordinated to pure economic gain by big business. Some people such as the revolutionary and leader of the Bolsheviks in the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, and a British theorist, JA Hobson, attributed to these claims. One reason the United States shifts from isolationism and continental expansion to imperialism is due to economic motivations. During the machine age, American manufacturing grew rapidly. America began to look for new markets where it was driven by growing nationalism. American businesses began to develop markets and production facilities in Latin America. The nation practiced expansionism by moving into regions to do business. To get the most out of resources, markets and trade, people are often in a hurry to get there. Seeking a way to maximize profit was a goal for imperial governments and private companies. Raw materials were supplied to European factories and markets by dependent settlers. They did it because it was necessary to make products. This was after the Industrial Revolution. Cheap labor was required. People wanted to sell or buy, so having access to markets was important. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Economic expansion was the result of these. Like new lands, steels, metals, crops and natural resources were also in demand. Many places were searched. One might be in Egypt, where the Suez Canal was highly prized. Trading posts, warehouses, and transportation infrastructure were established by imperial merchants. America wanted to find new markets for trade. In order to find new countries and trading markets, they extended their colonial power further. This would mean engaging and opening trade with Asian markets with China and even becoming a colonial power in the Philippines. Their desire to trade with other countries in the world led them to move from isolationism to imperialism. Another reason the United States shifts from isolationism and continental expansion to imperialism is due to exploratory motivations. During this era, Manifest Destiny played a role in which people were motivated to go further and seek new territories to explore. They wanted to see places unknown to them and had a sense of adventure. Some did it for imperial expansion where they had a sense of destiny to them, while others did it for national or personal fame, and discovering, mapping, and claiming territories were the goals of imperial explorers. They wanted to be the first to make new discoveries before their competitors. One of their explored and half-conquered lands was Samoa. It was known for its large port. The US Army was interested in building a base there. However, both Germany and Great Britain had arrived before the United States, although a battle almost broke out between the three countries, they later arrived with a peaceful agreement in which they divided Samoa with both Germany and the United States, and the Great Britain after ceding some regionsin another part of the Pacific. The aftermath of the Spanish-American War also gave the country a new territory, which was Puerto Rico. Americans' aspiration for land allowed the nation to gain new ground as it moved toward diplomacy. One of the several causes of the United States' transition from isolationism and continental expansion to imperialism is due to political motivations. The cause of this was that countries felt as if there were threats to be made to the security of their homeland where it might bring harm to their citizens or even to their prestige as an imperial power. And this is why political reasons often present themselves as responses to imperial power. Supremacy was fought with competition while patriotism was awakened. Countless empires wanted to strengthen their defenses and even increase their lands. They wanted to have different routes to their armies and alliances, and to do this they sought tactical territories. It also opened the door to both the Monroe Doctrine and the Open Door Policy. The newly free and independent colonies of Latin America were affected by European intervention. For this reason the Monroe Doctrine, which was the foreign policy of the United States, aims to prevent this. It was to warn the European powers to stay away from their affairs and the same could be said for them, otherwise a war might break out. The Open Door Policy was a doctrine established in 1899. It offered protection to China as it prohibited European nations from taking over their territory and exploiting their economies. This causes China, both the United States and the imperial powers, to maintain a healthy trading relationship. The desire of the United States was to continue trading with China while protecting its sovereignty and lands. Foreign policies also led to the United States' entry into World War I. The United States also wanted to build a Panama Canal where it had numerous advantages. One might be that it connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Second, he expanded their kingdom into Latin America. And third, it certainly helped the US Navy travel faster. The Platt Amendment established by Roosevelt in 1903 allowed America to control Cuba, where the United States had the right to intervene in Cuban affairs if the internal order were to be broken. Under this, without US approval, Cuba could not enter into a treaty with another nation. And the United States was able to build a naval base and a coaling station on the granted land. In this regard, President Theodore Roosevelt's Big Stick policy, also known as the Roosevelt Corollary, came into effect. This is where the United States continues to intervene against Latin Americans, claiming that they pose a threat to the American provinces. President Roosevelt announced that, to maintain order in Latin America, the United States had the right to use military force. American foreign policy continued to remain faithful to the Monroe Doctrine. This gave America the right to be like an international police force. It allows them to get involved anywhere in the Western Hemisphere where they believe national security is at stake. There was also the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854. That was when the United States sent Matthew Perry to speak to the emperor of Japan with a large battleship. After a while, Perry returned to the foreign country with seven warships where Japan eventually agreed to trade with the United States. The use of political systems through regulations increased America's influence on other nations. Another cause of the United States' transition from isolationism and.