what were the primary motivations and factors that led to the U.S. shift from isolationism and continental expansion to imperialism by the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

I’m studying for my History class and need an explanation.

J.A. Hobson, a British theorist, and Vladimir Lenin, the Russian revolutionary and leader of the Bolshevik (later Communist Party) in the Soviet Union, both criticized late 19th century imperialism as a capitalist conspiracy by “big business” to subjugate colonies for pure economic gain. Colonies provided cheap raw materials and guaranteed markets for European and U.S. “trusts and monopolies”. But what about ideological factors such as the idea of the “civilizing mission” or Manifest Destiny? By the late 19th century, the U.S. joined other European powers in constructing an empire.

• The First Draft (for Peer Review online) is due on Feb. 5 by 11:59 p.m. You must have a completed draft of the writing assignment (not just an outline or a page or two) with citations and a bibliography. The peer review needs to be completed by Feb. 7, 11:59 p.m. You will upload your rough draft and final draft to Canvas (it will be checked for similarity via Turnitin). The Final version of the paper is due by Feb 10, 11:59 p.m. Late papers will be penalized by one grade per class session.
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