Final answer:
The United States seized the Midway Islands in 1867 due to their strategic location in the trade route to China and Japan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States seized the Midway Islands in the Pacific Ocean in 1867 because they were strategically located in the trade route to China and Japan (option b). This gave the United States a significant advantage in terms of controlling and protecting its commercial interests in the region. By controlling Midway, the United States was able to establish a naval station there and effectively extend its influence in the Pacific.
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