The end of the war and the resulting reduction in military production raised the question of a new application of capital to American imperialism, a significant expansion of economic expansion. Monopolies demanded that the government assist in expanding the scope of capital. They needed new lands, new peoples to exploit and extract profits. The power of American imperialism grew so much, and its capitalist opponents were so weakened, that he did not hesitate to put on the agenda the question of the leading role of the United States of America in world affairs.