The predatory nature of imperialism is universal . But each country develops some of its distinctive characteristics , based on its history and its world position . U.S. imperialism is no exception to this rule . The exceptional expansion of U.S. imperialism can be attributed to the two world wars . While the two wars were not identical in nature , U.S. imperialism was able to emerge from both in a stronger position . Its growth and ” success ” rests upon the dead bodies of tens of millions of men , women and children . While it has continued its drive for world conquest between wars , it is a fact that the most basic and far – reaching redivision of the world in favour of U.S. imperialism took place during and immediately following each of the two world wars . In the first stage of both world conflicts , taking advantage of their geographical remoteness , the U.S. imperialists studiously stayed away from the battlefields . This was a studied tactic of conquest – of letting each of the warring sides bleed itself white ; and then , when they were both sufficiently weakened , entering the conflict under conditions in which both sides would lose and U.S. imperialism would garner the spoils from both victor and vanquished . In both wars , U.S. imperialism went to the assistance of Great Britain and France . But only the U.S.A. came out strengthened . It gathered in new markets and raw materials . At the same time , the U.S.A. has not had the experience of wars on its own soil . Its industries and resources have always been safe , far from the fields of battle . This has left its imprint on the specific characteristics of U.S. imperialism . Thus , although U.S. imperialism has taken part in wars , the main vehicle for its expansion has been the indirect interference , the use of antagonisms on a world scale , and the moving in when a vacuum has been created . This has made it possible for it to appear in a non – imperialist and even anti – war cloak and it should be said this method has given American imperialism cheap and easy loot . There is no other imperialist power that has been able to acquire such riches with such little expenditure whether in money or otherwise . Today , U.S. imperialism continues to dream of the prospect of a war between West Germany and the Soviet Union ; of a war between Japan and People’s China ; of wars between Cuba and other Latin American countries . Like a vulture it looks for the pitting of two creatures in battle until both are exhausted . It dreams of history repeating itself so it can once more devour the riches of victor and vanquished alike .. An essential feature of U.S. imperialism has been that it has waxed fat and increased its might during the general crisis of capitalism . This accounts for the profound contra dictions of its development . Such are some of the distinctive features in the background of U.S. imperialism . In making a correct assessment of a phenomenon , however , we must not only take into consideration that which is valid from the old , but must add to it that which is new the factors that have since appeared on the scene and are influencing development . In this sense , we must add some further elements to our analysis of U.S. imperialism .