Final answer:
Alfred Mahan advocated for building a powerful modern navy, establishing a global network of naval bases, and constructing the Panama Canal to enhance U.S. naval power and support America's rise as a world empire. The correct option is c.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alfred Mahan was a renowned naval strategist and historian who played an influential role in shaping America's naval policy towards empire building. In his seminal 1890 work The Influence of Seapower upon History, Mahan proposed several strategies to enhance U.S.
naval power, including building a stronger navy with modern steel ships, establishing a network of naval bases around the globe, and constructing a canal through Central America, specifically the Panama Canal, to improve the navy's mobility.
These strategies did not include developing an air force, having a large standing army, or obtaining military bases in Europe.
Mahan's emphasis on a strong navy and the construction of the Panama Canal were crucial matters that he believed would help the United States increase its naval power and secure its status as a global power. The correct option is c.