Final answer:
The United States built an empire in the 1890s through economic expansion and acquisition of overseas markets. This expansion led to their involvement in the Spanish-American War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States embarked on building an empire in the 1890s due to economic expansion and acquisition of overseas markets. The Industrial Revolution gave American businesses an advantage in delivering high-quality products at lowered costs, and they sought new markets to export their goods. This desire for expansion led to the United States engaging in the Spanish-American War in 1898.