"The Panama Canal President William McKinley ushered in the era of the American empire using military strength and economic pressure. His successor, Theodore Roosevelt, established a new foreign policy approach called big stick diplomacy. At the crux of his foreign policy was a thinly veiled threat. Roosevelt was convinced that recent American military successes made the use of force to achieve foreign policy goals unnecessary. Simply the threat of military force was enough. Roosevelt felt that America’s best interests were also the best interests of the rest of the hemisphere. He felt the U.S. had the right and duty to police the Americas. This belief, and his strategy of “speaking softly and carrying a big stick,” shaped much of Roosevelt’s foreign policy. Upon becoming president in 1901, Roosevelt was determined to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Roosevelt sought to achieve the construction of a canal across Central America. The canal was mainly intended to enable the U.S. Navy to operate more effectively in both the Atlantic and Pacific, but also made international trade easier. The most strategic location for a canal was across the Isthmus of Panama, but this piece of land would pose a challenge. At the time, Panama was part of the nation of Colombia. Roosevelt negotiated with the government of Colombia using his big stick philosophy. He threatened to take the project away from Colombia and build through Nicaragua. Colombia finally agreed to a treaty that granted the United States a lease on the land across Panama. In exchange for the land, Colombia received a payment of $10 million. Colombia received an additional $250,000 annual rental fee. The Cape Horn sea route begins in Seattle, Washington. It passes southward through the Pacific Ocean following the coasts of North America, Central America, and South America to Cape Horn. At Cape Horn it turns northward. This sea route then passes northward through the Atlantic Ocean following the coasts of South America and North America. It ends in New York City, New York. The Panama Canal sea route begins in Seattle, Washington. It passes southward through the Pacific Ocean following the coasts of North America and Central America. It turns eastward at the Isthmus of Panama and transits the Panama Canal to the Caribbean Sea. It then passes through the Caribbean Sea and turns northward. Finally, it follows the coast of North America to New York City, New York. Before the Panama Canal was built, ships had to use the long, dangerous route around South America’s Cape Horn to sail between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Colombian people were outraged over the loss of their land to the United States. Influenced by the public outcry, the Colombian Senate rejected the treaty. Upon hearing the treaty had been rejected, Roosevelt urged Panama to revolt against Colombia. Panama declared independence and the U.S. immediately recognized the new nation. Once the Panamanian victory was secured, construction on the canal began in May of 1904. While the area was the best location strategically, engineers would need to modify the land with physical features, such as walls to complete the lock system that would allow ships to navigate the narrow area and shallow waters. Excited by the work, Roosevelt became the first sitting U.S. president to conduct an official international trip. He traveled to Panama where he visited the construction site, taking a turn at the steam shovel and removing dirt. The Panama Canal was constructed across the isthmus of Panama connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The canal officially opened in 1914, permanently changing world trade and military defense patterns.

The Panama Canal Answers What was the basic principle of Roosevelt’s big stick diplomacy? Possible response: Theodore Roosevelt felt that American military successes meant that military force was not needed to realize U.S. foreign policy goals. Rather, the threat of military force was all that was needed to be successful in foreign policy. Why was the Panama Canal important? Possible response: The Panama Canal was important because it connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The U.S. wanted the canal for military and economic reasons. Ships in the Atlantic had previously had to go all the way around South America to get to the Pacific Ocean. Goods being shipped between the East and West Coasts of the U.S. could be shipped more quickly through the Panama Canal. The canal would also allow the U.S. Navy to move more efficiently in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans."

Describe where the Panama Canal was located and how it helped to improve trade around the world.
Remember that each response must be a minimum of three sentences.

1 answer

The Panama Canal is located across the Isthmus of Panama, which is the narrow strip of land that connects North and South America. This strategic location allowed ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to avoid the lengthy and perilous journey around the southern tip of South America, known as Cape Horn. By providing a direct and efficient maritime route, the canal significantly reduced travel time for vessels, thereby facilitating smoother and faster international trade.

The completion of the Panama Canal revolutionized global trade by creating a shortcut that dramatically improved shipping logistics. It enabled quicker transit of goods between the eastern and western parts of the United States, enhancing the efficiency of commerce and contributing to economic growth. Moreover, the canal increased the accessibility of Pacific ports to Atlantic shipping routes, allowing for a more seamless exchange of products and resources on a global scale.