American Foreign Policy

For years American settlers moved west and south dreaming  of expanding the United States. (1)___ was a driving force in  American history. In (2)___ the government announced the end of the “frontier.” Americans began looking to overseas  frontiers where they could expand (3)___ and compete for  political influence. In the mid-1800s American merchants  already traded with China, but many hoped to begin trading with (4)___. In 1853 (5)___ sailed warships into Tokyo Bay,  which persuaded Japan to sign the (6)___ and open ports to  American ships.

An Age of Imperialism

In the late 1800s and the early 1900s, many European nations  created large empires by exerting (7)___ and political control  over weaker regions. European countries competed for power in Asia and (8)___. After the Civil War, many wanted the

United States to (9)___ new lands. Secretary of State (10)___  pictured an American empire that included the Caribbean,  Central America, and the Pacific. In 1867 a treaty with Russia to buy (11)___ for $7.2 million was ridiculed. At an  1889 conference, Latin American countries established the  (12)___. As the United States expanded, Captain (13)___  argued that improving naval power would protect shipping and provide access to (14)___. In 1883 Congress authorized  construction of the first (15)___ warships.