Across the planet, only a select few places can rival the sheer natural beauty of the tropical islands that dot the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. From Puerto Rico to Jamaica, this exotic paradise in the southern United States, bloodied by battle, has since become a vacation spot open to tourists from all over the world. Meanwhile, many American companies have actively depleted many of the natural resources found in these areas, creating a vast dependence on the productivity of these monopolies. The presence of foreign entities in the Caribbean has resulted in an incredible amount of poverty due to the natives' inability to exploit the abundance of resources around them, which has led to many brilliant authors such as David Foster Wallace, Joan Didion, and Nathan Jessen , to suggest that the United States has too much influence in the area. However, many do not realize that the Caribbean islands have long been under the indirect influence of the United States. The empire that the United States founded in the 19th century in these surrounding island territories will continue to exist for the duration of their existence. The first exercise of American imperial power in the region occurred after the Spanish defeat in the Spanish-American War at the end of the 19th century. The outcome of this war left a power vacuum that needed to be filled and several economic markets open to the domination of American businesses. Numerous American companies capitalized on the cultivation of crops such as sugar, tobacco, cotton, and coffee. All bloomed with the help of the tropical climate. After... half the paper... to make money due to its sheer scarcity. This also describes the feeling of power that accompanies having American money inside a foreign country. The way other tourists describe the people of Cozumel is completely dehumanizing and insensitive, which negatively paints them as prodigal and pretentious imperialists. The United States of America, much to the surprise of the people, is still an active imperial power today. Aside from more recent excursions into the Middle East, the United States has actively generated revenue from the various resources found in the Caribbean island regions since the late 19th century. Whether growing cash crops, targeting illegal arms trafficking, or serving as a tropical playground for the wealthy, the Caribbean Islands will continue to be subject to the powerful influence of the U.S. economy..