The first major aspect that allowed the U.S. to become a world power in the second half of the 1800s was innovation. The industrial revolution is probably the best example of innovation. America had an abundance of raw materials, which made the U.S. a prime place for industry to flourish. Between the years 1878 and 1893 the American economy expanded in all its areas. Manufacturing increased 180 percent and farming increased 26 percent. The expansion of the railroads was the biggest internal event of economic growth. The railroad industry helped to expand two other industries, the steel industry and the coal industry. On top of that the railroads were the biggest employer in the nation. Inventions were other important parts of innovation that allowed America to become a world power. Countries could now communicate faster with radio tr

All of these were important aspects that allowed the U.S. to become a world power. Had one of these not happened or happened at a different time the U.S. might not have become a world power. The Spanish-American War a prime example if the U.S. would of lost that war many different things could of happened. Maybe the Spanish would have attacked the continental U.S. The U.S. definitely wouldn't have had control over the Philippines or Guam so trade would have slowed. Hawaii would probably not be a state either. It seems that at this time in history everything was going right for the U.S. and that America's time had come to emerge as a world power.

Foreign policy was important aspect of the second half of the 1800s for the U.S. The building of the Panama Canal is a perfect example of the foreign policy aspect. The reason I would consider it foreign policy is because of the way Roosevelt had to negotiate for control of Panama first. He first negotiated the signing of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, which allowed the U.S. to build the Canal without Britain. Roosevelt then helped get the Hay-Herran Treaty signed, which allowed the U.S. to build the canal but pay Panama $10 million plus a yearly rent. At first the Columbians wouldn't sign this treaty because they wanted to wait. Roosevelt then decided to encourage the Panamanians to revolt, which they did with the help of the U.S. navy and won. When Congress got angry about Roosevelt helping the Panamanians revolt Roosevelt responded by saying, "I took the Canal Zone and let Congress debate". The Canal was another political move that made Roosevelt very popular; this showed he was a man of action. He put American pride into this project so the people were behind it and tested the skills of engineers and doctors. The engineers and doctors succeeded where the French had failed again showing that America could do anything another world power could do.

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Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)