Why is economic causes of New Imperialism the main reason for taking colonies?

Question

ALl of these are the economic causes:
-need for natural resources
-desire to ecpand markets
-desire to invest markets
-outlet needed for growing populations
-economics was strengthened by the Indutrial Revolution

Would it have been possible without the indutrial revolutionary? The US has been accused of being imperialist today. do you agree?

Answer 1

In as much as Imperialism was well developed before the Industrial Revolution and not in trouble I can not see the Ind. Rev. as a causal factor. Industrialization of Europe influenced the development of Imperialism and aided in the maintenance of imperial control but that is as far as I would go.
America today has an influence in proportion to its unmatched economic and military power. That does not make it an Imperial power as it does not exercise sovereignty over the areas where it has a preponderant influence except in the case of a small number of island possessions.