Foreign affairs absorbed much of Roosevelt’s energy and had more knowledge of outside world than most of his predecessors. Americans from Spanish-American War wanted canal across the Central American isthmus to augment the strength of the navy by increasing its mobility, defend recent American acquisitions (Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Philippines, and facilitate operations of American merchant marine. Initial obstacles was legal ones.
Ancient Clayton-Bulwer Treaty with British in 1850 U. S Could not secure control over such route. 01 with unfriendly European power and Boer War, British consented to Hay-Pauncefote Treaty it gave the U. S. right to build canal and right to fortify it as well. Locations of the canal was a controversy. Many Americans like the Nicaraguan route but the French Canal Company was not want this failing S-shaped Panama. New Panama Canal company suddenly dropped the price of its holding. Nicaragua was objected because of its volcanic activity. Congress accepted the Panama route after Hanna persuasion. U. S. negotiation with Colombian a treaty favorable to the U. S.
It lease the 6 mile for $10 million and annual payment of $250,000. Colombian rejected because it was its most valuable natural assets and later truth was $ not enough. Eager to be elected prez and mad at the outcome. 1904 proclaimed he want the canal built and critizen the treaty rejector blocking the onward march of civilization. Uncle Sam Creates Puppet Panama Panamanians ready for another revolt because fear prosperity would be gone it U. S. now turn to Nicaraguan route. Buanu-Varilla did not want company to lose money + revoluntionists+fire fighters+Colombian troops.
Panama revolution occurred when Colombian troops were gathered to crush uprising but U. s. naval forces would not let them cross isthmus with justification of treaty 1846 that U. S. was obligation to maintain perfect neutrality of the isthmus against outsiders. Roosevelt quickly made Panana it outpost of u. S. Buanau-Varilla (now Panamanian minister) signed the Hya-Bunau-Varilla treaty in WA. Everthing the same but canal space widen and French company pocketed money from U. S. treasury. U. S. suffered from Roosevelt because European imperialists scorn at America’s uperior moral pretensions.
Completing the Canal and Appeasing Colombia Panama made an ugly U. S. relations with Latin America esp when it was already alarmed by seizure of Puerto Rico, Cuba, and outcome of Colombia defyment. Era of bullying Big Brother policy was launched. Roosevelt defended himself by claiming that he had received a mandate from civilization to start the canal and Colmbia had wronged the U. S. by not permitting itself to be benefited. Truth Nicaaragua route was equally feasible, cause not revolution, but would cause a dleay affecting his prez election 1904.