<span>Europeans wanted to explore because trade with Asia had become more difficult and expensive. Merchants wanted to find a cheaper trade route. New navigation technology, such as the compass and astrolabe, as well as better ships and advances in cartography, allowed Europeans to begin searching for a new trade route.</span>
James A. Garfield was the president during this time.
The United States bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million on January 17, 1917.
