The correct answer to this open question is the following.
The Spanish-American war, overseas expansion, and World War I helped the United States emerge as a world superpower in the following way.
With its sound victory over Spain in the Spanish-American War of 1898, the United States defeated one of the most powerful kingdoms of the time. Spain was considered a nation with a great army in Europe. So when the United States defeated the Spanish troops and gained new territories after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the world knew that the US has emerged as the new superpower of the world. The overseas expansion was important for this consolidation. The US had already gained control over the Philipines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
After World War 1, the US was in the privileged position of offering help to the much needed European nations. WWI had been fought in Europe, and countries such as France, Germany, and others suffered much destruction and were in need to start reconstruction, The US loaned big sums of money to these countries and that represented more income for the US and fortified its presence as a powerful nation.
