America's favorite hero from the Spanish-American War was Theodore Roosevelt. In 1900, he was elected vice president. "We stand on the threshold of a new century," Roosevelt declared. "Is America a weakling, to shrink from the work of the great powers? No. The young giant of the West stands on a continent and clasps the crest of an ocean in either hand."

Question

Dreaming of a Canal Roosevelt wanted to join the Atlantic and Pacific oceans with a canal. The navy would be better able to defend the nation's new territories if ships could move quickly between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Businesses would also gain from lower shipping costs.

In September 1901, President McKinley was shot and killed by an assassin. Roosevelt became president. In his first speech to Congress, Roosevelt argued for the canal. "No single great material work which remains to be undertaken on this continent is of such consequence to the American people," he told the lawmakers.

Congress soon approved funding. In 1903, Roosevelt offered Colombia $10 million for land in their province of Panama. It was the narrowest part of Central America. But the Colombian senate refused. They believed that the United States was trying to take a weaker country's valuable resources.

Roosevelt was furious. He sent a U.S. warship to Panama. Roosevelt knew that Panamanians wanted independence from Colombia. The day after the ship arrived, a revolution started in Panama. U.S. marines kept Colombian soldiers from reaching Panama's harbors. The rebels quickly won as a result.

The new country of Panama agreed to accept $10 million in exchange for giving the United States control over a "canal zone" ten miles wide. Some U.S. senators and newspapers—and countries all over the world—objected to America's "gunboat diplomacy." But most of the public supported the president.

Building "The Big Ditch" Construction on the canal began in 1904. Workers faced terrible conditions. "We had to bathe, wash our clothes in the same river; drink the same river water and cook with it," said one. A year later, three-quarters of American workers had quit the project.

Most employees were workers from the West Indies. They could not afford to go home. To prevent deadly yellow fever and malaria, crews worked to get rid of the mosquitoes that carried these diseases. Crews drained ditches and spread oil on swamps. They also screened doors and windows. Within two years, canal workers were no longer dying from these diseases.

A new chief engineer improved housing and strictly organized the huge project. Men made a wide, deep cut through Panama's mountains using dynamite and huge steam shovels. The dirt was moved by railroad car to lower elevations. The workers created earthen dams to form three giant lakes. Engineers also supervised the construction of locks. Locks are a type of gate that would allow water levels to be raised and lowered along the canal.

In 1904, Roosevelt made another speech to Congress. Construction of the canal was well underway. He made the Big Stick Policy an official part of his foreign policy. He reminded his audience that the Monroe Doctrine was issued by President Monroe in 1823 to prevent further European colonization in the Americas. Roosevelt noted that many countries in the hemisphere were still too weak to defend themselves nearly a century later. He said that the United States therefore must use "international police power" to preserve peace and order in the Western Hemisphere. They must protect American interests. He also said that this power would help protect weak nations. It was also a direct extension of the Monroe Doctrine. His statement became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine for that reason.

The 51-mile-long canal opened in 1914. Roosevelt was no longer president. But his influence in the Panamanian revolution continued to be controversial. Roosevelt himself admitted, "I took the Canal Zone." In 1921, Congress apologized to Colombia and gave it $25 million. However, anti-American feelings remained high in Latin America. Panamanians increasingly resented U.S. control of the Canal Zone. In 2000, the United States returned the zone to Panama.
How did the U.S involvement in the Panamanian revolution affect America's reputation in Latin America

Answer 1

The U.S. involvement in the Panamanian revolution had a significant and lasting impact on America's reputation in Latin America, often viewed as a negative one. Several key effects can be summarized:

1. Perception of Imperialism: Many Latin American countries perceived the U.S. actions as a form of imperialism, where the U.S. was willing to use military force to achieve its own goals at the expense of a sovereign nation’s autonomy. The rapid U.S. support for a revolution in Panama and the subsequent canal construction underscored this perception.

2. Gunboat Diplomacy: The term "gunboat diplomacy" was commonly used to describe the U.S. intervention in Panama. This approach, where military power was used to support diplomatic goals, fostered a sense of resentment and suspicion towards the United States among Latin American nations. They viewed it as an example of American aggression rather than a cooperative or supportive gesture.

3. Legacy of Distrust: The actions taken during the Panamanian revolution contributed to a legacy of distrust and skepticism regarding U.S. intentions in the region. Many Latin Americans felt that U.S. policies prioritized American interests over the sovereignty and welfare of Latin American nations.

4. Response to the Monroe Doctrine: Roosevelt's Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine was seen as a justification for U.S. intervention in the affairs of Latin American countries, which many interpreted as the U.S. claiming the right to intervene whenever it deemed necessary. This further intensified anti-American sentiments and views of the U.S. as a domineering neighbor rather than a partner.

5. Long-term Resentment: Although the canal was strategically beneficial for the U.S. and important for trade, the process through which it was obtained left lingering resentment in Panama and throughout Latin America. Feelings of exploitation and colonization persisted, culminating in increased nationalism and movements aimed at diminishing U.S. influence.

6. Apologies and Compensation: The eventual apology from Congress to Colombia in 1921 and the compensation offered were attempts to mend relations but came too late to fully heal the rift. The deep-rooted issues of mistrust endured, affecting diplomatic relations for decades to come.

Overall, the U.S. involvement in the Panamanian revolution solidified a complex and often antagonistic relationship with many Latin American countries, where American interventions were viewed with skepticism and criticism, shaping the region's perceptions of the United States well into the future.