Question

10
american naval power

one leading supporter of american imperialism was captain alfred mahan of the
united states navy. he argued that the prosperity of the united states depended on for-
eign trade. furthermore, he said a bigger
navy was needed to protect american mer-
chant ships. \when a question arises of con-
trol over distant regions,\ mahan wrote, \it
must ultimately be decided by naval power.\

in mahan’s view, the united states could
not expand its navy unless it acquired over-
seas territories a bigger navy would need
bases throughout the world. mahan was es-
pecially interested in acquiring harbors in
the caribbean and the pacific as stepping
stones to latin america and asia.

even before mahans appeal, congress
10.. how was the idea of expanding
overseas connected to the navy? what
did the navy think was necessary if the
u.s wanted to expand?

Explanation:

The question is about the connection between American overseas expansion and the navy, along with what the navy thought was necessary for expansion. From the text, Captain Alfred Mahan (US Navy) argued US prosperity relied on foreign trade, so a bigger navy was needed to protect merchant ships. For expansion, the navy (per Mahan) thought overseas territories (with bases, like harbors in Caribbean/Pacific) were necessary to support a larger navy.

Answer:

The idea of expanding overseas was connected to the navy because Captain Alfred Mahan argued U.S. prosperity depended on foreign trade, and a bigger navy was needed to protect American merchant ships (with naval power deciding control over distant regions). If the U.S. wanted to expand, the navy (per Mahan) thought acquiring overseas territories (to provide bases for the bigger navy, e.g., harbors in the Caribbean and Pacific as stepping - stones to Latin America and Asia) was necessary.