The foreign policy of the Progressive Era was driven by a variety of factors, including racial and national superiority, commercial and economic interests, strategic concerns, and idealism. Excerpts from For the Record provide various examples supporting the concerns that led to American foreign policy. The idea of ​​national superiority was evident in the belief in manifest destiny. This doctrine essentially asserted that America was a superior nation designed to thrive. The nationalist argument is best described in Albert Beveridge's "The March of the Flag" which states: "The rule of liberty, that all just government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, applies only to those who are able to govern themselves. » (For the record, p. 117) This supports America's superior view that it could govern a country better than its native citizens. Frederick Jackson Turner further reinforced the sense of national superiority in “The Frontier in American History.” His writings explained that the frontier played a vital role in establishing American independence and individualism. He also said, “The frontier is the quickest and most effective line of Americanization. » (For the record, p. 49-50) The implication that expansionism leads to positive Americanization further demonstrates the superior mindset. Racial superiority was evident in the "white man's burden." This suggested that it was the responsibility of the American people to spread democracy and Christianity to civilize "savages" and "inferior races"; these people included any person of color. Commercial and economic interests were also a driving force in foreign policy. “The Flag March” embodies the American point of view. He explains the country’s overproduction problems: “Today we earn more than we can use… there are more workers than labor; there is more capital than there is investment… we need more circulation. » (For the record, p. 117) All of these factors contributed to America's need to expand into foreign markets. By establishing trade with other countries, America could import natural resources in order to produce manufactured goods more cheaply. This expansion of the economy would create a market for the overproduction of goods and would also increase employment. Additionally, strategic concerns contributed to expansionism. Since the United States wanted to expand and trade with foreign countries, it ensured that other countries were stable and open to trade. This has been demonstrated in China and the open door market. It was also believed that Europeans would dominate the market if America did not get involved. Finally, Americans used their involvement in wars with foreign countries to build the European Union..