During the late 1800s, the United States began to acquire influence and territory outside of its continental borders. It pursued a policy of imperialism, or the use of economic, political, and military control over weaker territories. How did U. S. imperialism differ from the imperialism of nations with extractive economies?

For most of its early history, the United States played a small role in world affairs. But in the late 1800s, some of America's leaders called for the nation to join the ranks of the world's major powers. As a result, the United States began to acquire influence and territories outside its continental borders. The country was abandoning isolationism and emerging as a new power on the global stage.