Economic, political, and religious motives prompted these nations to expand their influence over other regions, each with a goal to increase their power across the globe. The Industrial Revolution of the 1800's created a need for natural resources to fuel newly invented machinery and transportation. The three main motivators of European imperialism were economic growth, rivalry between nations, and moral superiority. Many European nations exhibited a growing interest in colonies as sources of raw materials and new markets and as potential outlets for excess population and for administrators who could not be accommodated at home. Many Europeans were interested in developing empires nations, they exhibited a growing interest in colonies as sources of raw materials and new markets and as potential outlets for excess population and for administrators who could not be accommodated at home. The three main motivators of European imperialism were economic growth, rivalry between nations, and moral …show more content…
Both a desire for new markets for its industrial products and a belief in the racial and cultural superiority of Americans motivated the United States imperial mission. Americans justified imperialistic behavior by Claiming that it was their responsibility. Americans and Europeans both claimed that it was their responsibility as superior races to uplift, civilize and Christianize native peoples. Conquest in the poem is not portrayed as a way for the white race to gain individual or national wealth or power. Instead, they define white imperialism and colonialism in moral terms, as a “burden” that the white race must take up in order to help the non white races develop