What was a key factor of the empires the USA and european countries built in the late 1800s

The options of the question should be, A) totalitarianism. B) Patriotism. C) Chauvinism. D) Nationalism

The correct answer is D) Nationalism.

A key factor of the empires the United States and European built in the late 1800s was nationalism.

Nationalism is the ideology that considers that the interests of a nation are way beyond the interests of a person or a group of individuals. World powers such as the United States and other European countries used this idea of nationalism to convince their citizens that the expansion of its territories through conquering or acquisition were ways to solidify their international presence and strengthen their political and economic interests abroad.