Final answer:
The United States has a sphere of influence over Mexico and Canada due to economic ties, geographical proximity, and historical interactions. U.S. policies and investments in Mexico as well as integration within North American economies underscore this influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
which countries the United States has a sphere of influence over is A) Mexico and Canada. A sphere of influence refers to a country or area in which another country has power to affect developments although it has no formal authority. In the case of the United States, both Mexico and Canada fall within its sphere due to strong economic ties, geographical proximity, and historical interactions. For instance, U.S. investors receive a return from past financial investments in Mexico, which indicates economic influence. Furthermore, Mexico exports goods to Canada and imports services from Japan, showing the interconnectedness of these economies.
History offers ample evidence of this influence. The Lodge Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, for instance, was a policy that reflected U.S. intents to limit foreign influence in the Western Hemisphere, which directly relates to U.S. influence over Mexico. Additionally, during the war between the United States and Mexico, there were revolts against U.S. control in territories such as California and New Mexico, indicating the extent of U.S. influence at the time. The concept itself arises from the actions and policies that extend U.S. interests and control, ranging from military presence to economic investments and political decisions that shape the governance and internal affairs of the neighbouring countries.