Historian Howard Jones has argued that one historical circumstance that led to support for United States expansion overseas in the 1890s was the desire to find new markets for American goods. At the time, the United States was experiencing an economic depression, and there was a surplus of goods produced by American factories that could not be sold domestically.
As a result, many American business leaders and politicians began to advocate for overseas expansion as a way to open up new markets for American goods. They saw the acquisition of new territories and the creation of overseas markets as a way to stimulate economic growth and create new opportunities for American businesses.
Jones argues that this economic motivation was a key factor in driving American expansionism in the 1890s, and that it played a major role in shaping American foreign policy during this time period. Other factors, such as a desire for military power and a sense of cultural superiority, also played a role, but the economic motivations were particularly important in driving support for expansion overseas.