Final answer:
U.S. expansion was driven primarily by the desire to secure new markets and obtain raw materials for industry, linked to mercantilist practices (c). Creating colonies in Africa was not a principal motive for the U.S., unlike some European powers. The economic gains from new territories were crucial drivers of imperialism for the industrialized nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reasons for U.S. expansion during the period of late nineteenth-century imperialism included securing new markets for American goods and obtaining raw materials for American industry. The United States, like European powers, was driven by the economic motivations of mercantilist theory to acquire colonies that would provide natural resources. This was also tied to seeking international prestige and dominance.
The industrial revolution required a steady supply of raw materials, and colonies were seen as a means to fulfill this demand. Access to new markets for finished goods was another critical motive, as the industrialized nations of Europe and North America needed customers for their manufactured products. Consequently, countries like Britain, France, Germany, and the United States sought to establish or expand their empires to include territories rich in resources and potential consumers.
In the U.S., expansionist policies were partly justified as a means to enhance the nation's economic power and influence but did not include creating colonies in Africa as a primary motive. Instead, U.S. expansion efforts were focused elsewhere, in regions such as the Caribbean and Pacific.