The Spanish–American War Practice Test

Secondary-source excerpt (context): Scholars stress that the war’s causes included instability in Cuba, where rebellion disrupted sugar production and threatened U.S. property. American officials also feared European powers might gain influence if Spain lost control. Which long-standing U.S. foreign policy tradition is most consistent with the fear of European influence in the Caribbean?

Secondary-source excerpt (context): Scholars emphasize that the Spanish-American War occurred amid a broader shift from continental expansion to overseas influence. With the frontier declared closed by some commentators and industrial output rising, policymakers sought new markets and strategic positions abroad. Which interpretation best links this context to the war’s causes?