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Difficulty: MediumImperialism and the Spanish-American War

"Whether they will or no, Americans must now begin to look outward. The growing production of the country demands it. An increasing volume of public sentiment demands it. The position of the United States, between the two Old Worlds and the two great oceans, makes the same claim, which will soon be strengthened by the creation of the now inevitable canal of the Isthmus [in Central America]..."

— Alfred Thayer Mahan, *The Interest of America in Sea Power, Present and Future*, 1897

Which of the following developments in the late nineteenth century best explains the perspective expressed in the excerpt?

  1. The rapid expansion of domestic industrial production, which generated a need for new foreign markets and raw materialsAnswer
  2. B
    A desire to avenge the sinking of the Lusitania, which shifted public opinion in favor of overseas military intervention
  3. C
    A belief that the United States was obligated by a mutual defense treaty with Latin American nations to drive European empires from the Western Hemisphere
  4. D
    A commitment to absolute isolationism, which sought to shield the domestic economy from international trade networks

Answer

The rapid expansion of domestic industrial production, which generated a need for new foreign markets and raw materials
The correct answer is correct because the Second Industrial Revolution dramatically increased American industrial and agricultural output. Business leaders and politicians feared that domestic markets would become saturated, leading to economic depressions. Consequently, imperialists like Alfred Thayer Mahan argued that the United States needed to acquire overseas territories, build a powerful navy, and establish refueling stations to secure and protect access to new international markets.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document for key arguments and historical context.
The author, Alfred Thayer Mahan, argues in 1897 that Americans must 'look outward' due to 'growing production' and the geographical position of the U.S. between two oceans, pointing toward overseas engagement.
Understanding the source's main argument is necessary to connect it to broader historical trends.
2
Identify the late-nineteenth-century development that matches Mahan's emphasis on 'growing production.'
The Gilded Age and the Second Industrial Revolution caused U.S. industrial capacity to grow rapidly, creating a surplus of goods that domestic markets could not absorb.
This industrial surplus directly links Mahan's focus on production to the economic motivations for imperialism.
3
Evaluate the options to find the one that accurately connects Mahan's perspective to this industrial growth.
The option concerning the rapid expansion of domestic industrial production and the search for foreign markets and raw materials aligns perfectly with the text.
This explains the economic driver behind the outward-looking foreign policy advocated in the excerpt.

Key Concept

Motivations for U.S. Imperialism
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Topics

Imperialism and the Spanish-American War

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