Alfred Thayer Mahan, a prominent American naval strategist, believed that the United States could learn from the examples of England and France in their respective historical periods of naval dominance. Mahan argued that England's rise to naval power during the 18th and 19th centuries was due to their mastery of the seas, which allowed them to control trade routes and secure their global economic interests. France, on the other hand, demonstrated the importance of a strong navy as a means of projecting power and expanding influence overseas. Mahan believed that the United States should prioritize building a powerful navy to protect its economic and strategic interests, as well as project its power abroad, much like England and France had done before it. He saw the development of a strong navy as essential for the United States to become a dominant world power.