Which of the following is true about the U.S. Navy by 1900?

By 1900, the United States had developed its navy into a formidable force, resulting in it ranking as the third largest navy in the world. This was a significant transformation from earlier periods when the U.S. Navy was relatively small and not prioritized. The growth of the navy was a direct result of the national policy shift towards expansionism and imperialism, particularly following events such as the Spanish-American War, which showcased the importance of a powerful navy for global presence and influence.

The naval expansion was influenced by Alfred Thayer Mahan’s ideas on seapower, which advocated for strong naval capabilities to protect trade routes and secure national interests overseas. The U.S. invested in modern ships and infrastructure, which helped in the ranking of its naval forces. In contrast, by 1900, although efforts were made to strengthen the navy, it was not the largest or superior to European navies like Britain or Germany, which maintained dominant naval powers. Therefore, the assertion that the U.S. had the third largest navy accurately reflects the state of naval power at the time.