During the 1880’s and 1890’s America underwent a dramatic change in foreign policy. Except for a brief interlude with Manifest Destiny in the 1840’s, the country had been in a state of isolationism from the inception of independent government. Near the turn of the century, this policy changed to one of competitive interest in and foreign ex-change with other countries. Industrial and mercantile expansion required new markets; the editorials and stories of the so-called “yellow …showed first 75 words of 1063 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1063 total…their gospel, quickly descended on these new nations, and our merchants soon opened trade. The driving force behind all of these decisions was the need for a “safety valve.” With no more frontier, no place to explore and expand to, America had grown restless. When cries of distress came to us from the outside world we were all too ready for some action, some excitement, a “bully fight” with which to vent our excess energies.