They needed to find more land for more opportunities for factories and trading. To spread their civilization to other people
Spain and France were also among the strongest in Europe, with Portugal being a player early on because of their sea worthiness and exploration. I can’t recall of Portugal’s decline had already started by the beginning of the 17th Century, but it was getting close.
FULL ANSWER
Because the Industrial Revolution increased the production capacity of Western states astronomically, there was an enormous hunger for raw materials to satisfy demands. Thus, Western powers sought colonies where raw materials were abundant and where they could be appropriated at little to no cost. Additionally, colonies gave the Western powers a ready-made market for their goods, as the colonized people were left with little to no legal recourse to produce their own finished products. Technological advances in Western arms and transportation commonly made indigenous resistance to imperial incursions futile and short-lived, as Westerners had far superior weapons, ammunition, strategy and tactics.
Roosevelt's recovery program : New Deal
fair treatment of all nations following WWI : just peace
Harding's post-war program : return to normalcy
Legislation controlling corporation competition : National Industrial Recovery Act
Wilson's program of political and social reform : progressivism
program of flood control and soil conservation : Tennessee Valley Authority
resulted in 5 nation treaty banning buildup of certain military equipment : Washington Disarmament conference
Legislation for veteran bonuses : Patman bill
Roosevelt's initial program to pass as much legislation as possible : five hundred days
financial aid to Europe : Young Plan
Organizations for black persons' rights : National Urban League
British ship sunk by Germans : Lusitania
