The correct answer to this open question is the following.
Although there are no options attached, we can say the following.
The United States got caught up in the pursuit of "power overseas" after their victory over Spain in the Spanish-American War. After the United States and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris in October 1898, the US received the custody of the Philippines and the control of Guam and Puerto Rico.
That is when the federal government realized that the United States could have an international presence and the benefits of it. Through the use of the military presence in those places, the US government understood the benefit of exerting international pressure to defend its strategic interests in politics and economy.