The action lowered morale. this did not lower morale as many common folk did not understand the need for ports and thought themselves self sufficient.
By forming various organizations.
The European Union, for example, unites Europe (Minus Britain these days) under one banner, thus preventing fighting.
A more direct example is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO protects the "North Atlantic" and Europe from terrorists and invading countries by using the combined military strength of multiple nations.
Answer:
The correct answer is - to expedite trade by finding and charting alternative methods of transport to Asia.
The Ottomans made a large empire, and they managed to gain control of the trade routes between Europe and Asia, demanding high taxes for both sides if they wanted to use their territory for trade. The Europeans did not fancy this, so they sponsored an expedition, one of many to come so that a new sea route is found for Asia, thus trading through it freely. Columbus was the main explorer of one of those missions. He went westwards with the ships he had at disposal, hoping that he will come to the eastern coast of Asia. He indeed came to some islands, and later a mainland, and all excited about it he called the natives Indians, as he actually thought it is India that he reached. Little did he knew that he actually discovered new continents.
Explanation:
One of the main ways in which the XYZ Affair helped build the country's armed forces was that it brought the United States and France close to an armed conflict, which forced the US to prepare its military and military supplies.
