Question
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."
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.
Why was the canal so important to the US?
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.
Why was the canal so important to the US?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The canal was crucial to the United States for several key reasons:
1. **Strategic Military Advantage**: The canal allowed for quicker and more direct naval movements between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This was vital for national defense and maintaining military readiness, especially after the U.S. had acquired new territories following the Spanish-American War. The ability to swiftly move naval forces was seen as essential for protecting American interests.
2. **Economic Benefits**: The canal significantly reduced shipping distances and travel time for commercial shipping routes. This lowering of transportation costs benefited businesses and enhanced trade efficiency, allowing the U.S. to boost its economy by facilitating international trade.
3. **Expansion of Influence**: By constructing the canal, the United States sought to demonstrate its growing power and influence in the Western Hemisphere and beyond. The canal served as a symbol of American engineering prowess and its role as a rising global power in the early 20th century.
4. **Implementation of the Roosevelt Corollary**: The construction and control of the canal directly aligned with Roosevelt’s foreign policy doctrine, which asserted the U.S.'s right to intervene in Latin America to stabilize countries that were deemed unstable. This policy aimed to prevent European powers from intervening in the Americas and thereby protect American interests.
5. **Facilitation of Maritime Trade**: The canal transformed maritime trade routes, allowing ships to bypass the lengthy and treacherous trip around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. This not only saved time but also costs associated with fuel and provisions needed for longer voyages.
In summary, the canal was strategically and economically vital for the United States, enhancing its military capability, facilitating trade, and extending its influence in the region and across the globe.
1. **Strategic Military Advantage**: The canal allowed for quicker and more direct naval movements between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This was vital for national defense and maintaining military readiness, especially after the U.S. had acquired new territories following the Spanish-American War. The ability to swiftly move naval forces was seen as essential for protecting American interests.
2. **Economic Benefits**: The canal significantly reduced shipping distances and travel time for commercial shipping routes. This lowering of transportation costs benefited businesses and enhanced trade efficiency, allowing the U.S. to boost its economy by facilitating international trade.
3. **Expansion of Influence**: By constructing the canal, the United States sought to demonstrate its growing power and influence in the Western Hemisphere and beyond. The canal served as a symbol of American engineering prowess and its role as a rising global power in the early 20th century.
4. **Implementation of the Roosevelt Corollary**: The construction and control of the canal directly aligned with Roosevelt’s foreign policy doctrine, which asserted the U.S.'s right to intervene in Latin America to stabilize countries that were deemed unstable. This policy aimed to prevent European powers from intervening in the Americas and thereby protect American interests.
5. **Facilitation of Maritime Trade**: The canal transformed maritime trade routes, allowing ships to bypass the lengthy and treacherous trip around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. This not only saved time but also costs associated with fuel and provisions needed for longer voyages.
In summary, the canal was strategically and economically vital for the United States, enhancing its military capability, facilitating trade, and extending its influence in the region and across the globe.