Final answer:
American politicians supported the rise of Africa for reasons including gaining political influence, promoting economic development, countering global powers, and addressing humanitarian issues. The Cold War era, natural resource wealth, and post-independence infrastructure needs are central to understanding these motives. The colonial legacy also plays a role in these strategic interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reasons American politicians supported the rise of Africa can be multifaceted. Political influence, economic development, countering the influence of other global powers, and addressing humanitarian issues are key factors. After World War II, during the era of independence, African countries were courted by the superpowers, notably the United States and the Soviet Union, as part of the Cold War. The U.S.'s interest in Africa can thus be rooted in the desire to gain political influence, especially to counter the spread of communism. Additionally, the colonial history of African territories, rich in natural resources, made them attractive for economic investment and resource extraction, linking into motives for supporting African advancement.
Europe's colonial policy of extracting raw materials and slave labor from Africa during the imperial age set the stage for later foreign interests in the continent's economic capabilities. With independence, infrastructure development became a necessity, and countries like the U.S. saw opportunities to invest and gain access to these markets and resources. However, the arbitrary national boundaries drawn during the Berlin Conference created political instability, which sometimes justified foreign intervention under the guise of addressing humanitarian issues or restoring stability.