Why did Teddy Roosevelt urge Panama to revolt against Columbia?

A. The U.S. is obligated to intervene in foreign nations.
B. The use of force to obtain military bases in other countries is justified.
C. The U.S. is obligated to share Christianity and American values.
D. American expansion exploits the peoples of other nations.

1 answer

Teddy Roosevelt urged Panama to revolt against Colombia primarily because he was interested in facilitating the construction of the Panama Canal, which was crucial for U.S. naval and commercial interests. While none of the provided options fully captures the nuance of his motivations, the closest answer in spirit would be:

B. The use of force to obtain military bases in other countries is justified.

This option aligns with Roosevelt's "Big Stick" diplomacy, which emphasized the use of military force when necessary to achieve U.S. goals, particularly in the realm of territorial acquisition and control over strategic locations.