What major resource drove U.S. economic interests in the Caribbean during the imperialist period?

During the imperialist period, the Caribbean was an essential region for U.S. economic interests primarily due to the cultivation and export of sugar and tobacco. These two agricultural products were highly valuable in both domestic and international markets. The U.S. had a significant interest in sugar because of its profitability, especially with the rise of refined sugar consumption in America and Europe. Cuba, in particular, became known as the "sugar bowl" of the world, where American investors owned large plantations that produced sugar for export.

Tobacco also played a crucial role, with the Caribbean islands being famous for their high-quality products liked by consumers globally. This economic dependency on sugar and tobacco directly influenced U.S. policies and actions in the region, including military interventions and the establishment of political systems that favored American business interests. Therefore, the interconnection between these cash crops and U.S. economic ambitions made sugar and tobacco the primary resources driving American imperialism in the Caribbean during this period.