What Role Did Self-Interest Play In Driving American Foreign Policy

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During the years of 1895-1920, America had started to move towards the idea of getting involved with foreign places. With the closing of the frontier, America had started to search for a type of ‘new frontier’ that they could conquer. The factor most important in driving American foreign policy in this time was self-interest. While idealism played a role when America felt the need to help foreign countries, it was ultimately self-interest that led America to take actions in foreign policy. Self- interest is shown when Senator Albert J. Beveridge claims in a speech that America was in need for new markets to get new resources from and to sell to for more trade. They needed more things to prosper. For example, in Hawaii, America overthrew

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