Policy to freely trade. Africa had many natural rubber trees, which was just what America needed for its growing bicycle and automobile industries. Also, Alaska offered many attractive prospects to Americans. It was a huge land filled with a seemingly endless supply of lumber. When gold was found there in the late 1800s, it only increased Alaska's attraction to Americans. One other area that attracted Americans was Venezuela. Gold had been found there, also, and America tried to step in and arrange a peace treaty with Venezuela
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