ABSTRACT
The rise of the United States as a world power has been sudden and accidental, in contrast with the slow and deliberate extension of the economic influence and the political sovereignty of the European powers. The place of the United States in the world and her preponderant position in international affairs are the result of a natural growth in population and wealth, which has rapidly changed the relative position of the American people among the peoples of European origin. European and American sovereignty has been extended to that part of the world because of the need of the European and American peoples for colonizing areas and markets. The war in Europe created an unprecedented demand for American manufactured and agricultural products and seemingly brought unprecedented prosperity to the American people. In addition to supplying the European markets with war materials and with food-stuffs and manufactured articles, people found a demand for American goods in South American and colonial markets.
