3a+.+Factors+that+influenced+the+United+States+interest+in+the+Caribbean+up+to+1985

__**Political Factors**__

> The US wanted to create a situation which would safe guard the US against enemy attack. For tis reason the US constructed military bases and centers in the Caribbean.


 * From around the beginning of the 20th Century, Britain became less able to maintain world wide control of its empire, this in effect gave control of the Caribbean to the US who was better able to defend it.


 * The Caribbean territories were of great importance to the US as members of the United Nations because their support of the US helped make them a super power.

__**Ideological/ Humanitarian** **factors**__ > Americans had missionary and humanitarian desires to spread some of the benefit of their civilization (which they thought was superior to people in the Caribbean who they thought were backward). They wanted to build schools and hospitals to eradicate diseases, to improve communication and government.


 * The US saw itself as a champion of democracy especially since World War 1 and was interested in establishing solid foundations in the western Hemisphere including the Caribbean.


 * The US believed that it had to spread its influence in order to remain a world power and also to extend America ideas and intuitions to other parts of the world.

__**Economic Factors**__

> North Americans had developed trading and business interest in the region before 1776 and this interest continued even through the navigational acts tended to restrict US trade interests. However once the navigation laws were removed this stimulated US interest in the Caribbean.