America's Foreign Policy Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Mastering U.S. Foreign Policy!

The expansion of the United States into Asia prior to World War II was primarily driven by the desire to seek trade and enhance economic prosperity. This period was marked by a significant transformation in global trade dynamics, and the U.S. sought to establish and solidify its presence in Asia, particularly in markets that were rapidly growing.

With industrialization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the U.S. economy was increasingly in need of new markets for its products. Asian countries, with their vast populations and emerging economies, presented lucrative opportunities for trade. The U.S. aimed to facilitate and expand commerce, viewing economic engagement as a way to ensure prosperity and influence in the region.

Moreover, initiatives such as the Open Door Policy, which advocated for equal trading rights among nations in China, illustrated this economic motivation. By promoting free trade, the U.S. was not only looking to bolster its own economy but also to curb the colonial ambitions of other powers in Asia, thus ensuring that American interests were represented.

This focus on economic interests ultimately shaped U.S. foreign policy in Asia, leading to a complex interplay of diplomacy, trade agreements, and other forms of engagement prior to the dramatic shifts that accompanied World War II.