Isolationism is defined in the dictionary as a national policy of abstaining from political or economic relations with other countries. It was also The United States main policy towards the end of the 19th century. Despite not having relations with other countries the time was right for the U.S. to break isolationism and become a world power because of a few political and economic events.
             The first major aspect that allowed the U.S. to become a world power in the second half of the 1800s was innovation. The industrial revolution is probably the best example of innovation. America had an abundance of raw materials, which made the U.S. a prime place for industry to flourish. Between the years 1878 and 1893 the American economy expanded in all its areas. Manufacturing increased 180 percent and farming increased 26 percent. The expansion of the railroads was the biggest internal event of economic growth. The railroad industry helped to expand two other industries, the steel industry and the coal industry. On top of that the railroads were the biggest employer in the nation. Inventions were other important parts of innovation that allowed America to become a world power. Countries could now communicate faster with radio transmissions. The invention of the gasoline powered internal combustion engine was an important internal economic event that improved transportation in the U.S. Henry Ford made the automobile affordable to the public with mass production. When cars were mass-produced they required materials like steel alloy, glass, rubber, and petroleum. If America didn't have these materials they would be forced to trade with other countries. The industrial revolution also allowed production of military machines to go up which established us as a military powerhouse. The U.S. built a world-class navy, which was second only two Britain.
             Another one of the major aspects of the second half of the 1800s was imperi...