Answer: d. the Spanish-American War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt is part of President Roosevelt´s first State of the Union address, in 1902, when he stated firmly that the canal was a prime priority for his government. The Spanish-American War had proven that a faster water crossing between the Us´s east and west coast was very much needed.
By 1903 the United States had helped Panama become independent from Columbia, and bought a 10-mile wide piece of property in order o build the Panama Canal.