Final answer:
The United States acquired the territory it needed in Panama through political and military maneuvers, including supporting Panama's revolution for independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States acquired the territory it needed in Panama to build the Panama Canal through a series of political and military maneuvers. The U.S. government initially negotiated with Colombia for the rights to build the canal, but when the Colombian senate hesitated to approve the agreement, the U.S. helped engineer the independence of Panama. The U.S. provided military aid to ensure Panama's revolution succeeded, and once Panama secured its independence, it signed the Canal Zone over to the U.S. Construction on the canal began in 1904, and it opened in 1914, significantly shortening the trip for cargo between the oceans.