Final answer:
The U.S. Navy's reassignment of ships to the Pacific in 1922 was in response to Treaty Limitations, specifically the Five-Power Treaty from the Washington Naval Conference, aimed at preventing a naval arms race and balancing naval power among nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Navy reorganized its forces in 1922, assigning most of its ships to the Pacific in response to C) Treaty Limitations. This realignment was largely influenced by the outcomes and decisions of the Washington Naval Conference in 1921, which resulted in the Five-Power Treaty. This treaty aimed to prevent naval arms race by setting limits on warship construction and established ratios of naval power among the signatory nations, such as Britain, the United States, and Japan.
Due to strategic and economic interests in the Pacific, keeping a significant portion of the U.S. Navy there also aligned with America’s broader geopolitical aims. The battle of Midway and other significant naval conflicts during World War II emphasized the importance of having a strong Pacific fleet to counter the Japanese Empire and maintain open trade routes to Asia, which were crucial for economic opportunities and warfare strategies.