Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy...McCullough, David. The Path between the Seas: the Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1977. Created Date 10/22/2019

Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy

Panama Canal/Revolt in Columbia

Background

● Panama was originally part of Colombia● France had the original idea of a transoceanic canal through Panama

○ Attempted building in 1880 ■ Bankrupt after 9 years, 20,000 workers killed (disease,

work related accidents)● France gave up on the Canal and left in 1889● Lack of French occupation set the stage for other world powers to

attempt to build the transoceanic canal

Purpose for U.S. Involvement● Heightened U.S. interest in transoceanic canal after Spanish American

War○ National focus on economic gain and overseas trade with other

nations● Saw the failure of French efforts

○ Took the same idea and wanted to do better■ Prove America is the best nation ever and everyone else is a

inferior power● Set the stage for the Roosevelt Administration to “Speak softly and

carry a big stick” in Panama

In Conclusion…. France Surrendered

● U.S. originally planned to build a canal in Nicaragua● Spooner bill June 29, 1902

○ Allowed U.S to purchase the Panama canal land from the French● Hay-Herran treaty

○ Treaty formed by U.S. Secretary of State John M. Hay and Colombian Diplomat Tomás Herrán

○ Allowed U.S. to lease land for an initial payment of 10 Mil with subsequent payments of $250,000 for 99 years

○ Ratified by U.S. Senate on 3/17/1903○ Ignored and not Ratified by Colombian Government

“Speak Softly”-U.S. Political Intervention

“Carry a Big Stick”-U.S. Military Intervention

● Colombia’s lack of compliance with Hay-Terran treaty○ Caused U.S. Sponsorship of Panamanian separatist movement.

● United States support○ Sent the USS Nashville to Panama

■ Military show of force to discourage Colombian resistance○ Removed U.S. Railcars

■ Stranded Colombian army in Colón● November 3, 1903, Panama declares independence from Colombia

○ Recognized by both U.S. and Panama 3 days later

Outcome

● 1904, U.S. and Panama sign a treaty which allows U.S. to construct and operate a canal○ Included governing rights over the 10 mile wide surrounding area of

canal.● Construction of Canal began immediately and completed in 1914

○ Headed by Chief Engineer John Stevens● Asserted U.S as imperial and world power● Panama Canal became huge center of trade and global commerce

○ Controlled by U.S until 2000 when rights were given to Panama

Pretty epic time lapse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8TkcWhmByg

Fun Facts ● During the battle Colombian soldiers were bribed $50 each to lay down their arms● Despite popular belief Teddy Roosevelt is currently dead● April 1902, Mount Pelée on the island of Martinique began rumbling, and on May 8, it

erupted, wiping the city of St. Pierre (known by its nickname of “Little Paris”). The sole survivor was a prisoner who was kept in a windowless cell underground and did not know of the eruption until rescue workers arrived. This event led the U.S. Senate to move the canal from Nicaragua to Panama.

● It can take a large ship up to 10 hours to pass through the canal ● Philippe Bunau-Varilla sent Nicaraguan stamps featuring volcanoes to the U.S. Senate to

prove that they existed.

Works Cited “TR and the Panama Canal.” PBS. Public Broadcasting Service. Accessed October 3, 2019. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tr-panama/.

U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State. Accessed October 3, 2019. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/panama-canal.

“H.R. 3110, Amendment to Provide for the Construction of a Canal . . . (Spooner Act), June 18, 1902.” U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Accessed October 3, 2019. https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/exhibitions/artifact/hr-3110-amendment-provide-construction-canal-spooner-act-june-18-1902.

“Hay-Herran Treaty.” TR Center - Hay-Herran Treaty. Accessed October 3, 2019. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/TR-Encyclopedia/Foreign-Affairs/Hay-Herran-Treaty.

“The 1903 Treaty and Qualified Independence.” Panama - The 1903 Treaty and Qualified Independence. Accessed October 3, 2019. http://countrystudies.us/panama/8.htm.

McCullough, David. The Path between the Seas: the Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1977.