Section 3: American Interests in Asia and South America

Europeans and Americans had come to recognize the importance of that narrow strip of land separating Atlantic and Pacific oceans in North America. By shortening the trip around South America ships could shorten the journey from New York to San Francisco by more than 7500 miles.

In 1882 a, French company led by engineer Ferdinand De Lesseps began digging across Panama. De Lesseps had built the Suez Canal in Egypt. In Panama, however, the company lacked money, had inadequate tools and malaria and yellow fever killed at least 20,000 French workers. Others died from snakebites pneumonia and accidents. De Lesseps abandoned the project after eight years.

The Spanish-American war increased American interest in a canal The Spanish-American war increased American interest in a canal. The battleship Oregon had taken 68 days to steam from the West Coast around South America to join the fighting in Cuba. The delay alerted the U.S. government of the strategic importance of the canal.

In 1901, Congress authorized the President to bargain with Columbia to purchase the Canal Zone. Roosevelt offered $10 million plus an annual rent of $250,000. When Columbia rejected the offer as too low, the furious President took the fight to the press. Roosevelt called the Colombians bandits and “the Blackmailers of Bogota.”

These comments inspired Panamanians to revolt against Columbia These comments inspired Panamanians to revolt against Columbia. Not by chance the United States warship USS Nashville steamed into the Panama port of Colon. On November 2, 1903 encouraged by this display of American support, Panamanian revolutionaries, including members of the local fire department, immediately revolted. United States Naval forces blocked the landing of the Columbian army ensure the success of the revolt.

On November 3, Panama declared its independence from Columbia On November 3, Panama declared its independence from Columbia. Roosevelt was notified three days later. Within two hours Congress recognized the new nation, the quickest such action ever taken by the government up to that time. Less than two weeks later the Panamanian government granted United States a larger canal zone than Columbia had with even better financial terms.

With the Canal Zone under United States control American set about completing the task started by De Lesseps up some 20 years. To those who questioned the legality of American acquisition of the Panama Canal, Pres. Roosevelt had a simple reply. “Tell them that I'm going to make dirt fly.”

For over seven years 43,400 workers labored under the supervision of Army engineer Col. George W. Goethals. Laboring in the mud and sweltering heat canal workers performed miracles of construction. They moved more than 232,000,000 yards of earth, often by hand, before finishing the big ditch. Every three years they dug as much as the entire Suez Canal.

Crews excavated and damned with the rivers to form a man-made lake Crews excavated and damned with the rivers to form a man-made lake. They installed locks that were able to raise or lower ships more than 85 feet, the difference in height between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Theodore Roseville, the first present travel abroad while in office, visited the site himself. He made the first trip through the canal before it was ever completed. Giving speeches and at times working with the men to encourage them to keep going. At a cost of more than $350 million the United States provided its ships with a quick route between the Pacific and Atlantic. The nation could now extend its influence.

The building the Panama Canal was just one aspect of Roosevelt’s global plan. He believed this country had a superior civilization and culture and was obligated to take the lead in world affairs. This belief was the core of Roosevelt’s foreign policy which became known as the “big stick diplomacy.” I've always been fond of the West African Proverb, “Speak softly and carry a big stick and you will go far.”

Even before the start the Panama Canal, Roosevelt worked to ensure the authority position of United States in the region. In December 1904, President Roosevelt announced his new policy. He claimed that United States had the right to exercise “international police force power” over Latin American nations that failed to take care of their own affairs. This policy became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

A crisis in the Dominican Republic in 1904, gave Roosevelt the chance to put this new policy into affect. The Dominican Republic had fallen into debt to European banks. At first Roseville had hesitated to get involved. Nevertheless he was certain that the European powers would take action if the United States failed to. With American ships anchored off of the Coast of the Dominican Republic, the U.S. persuaded Dominican officials to submit their national finances to United States control.

The President stated that he had no intention of making the Dominican Republic a territory. However, the use of the power of the Roosevelt Corollary showed that the United States was now taking the charge of the Monroe Doctrine seriously. The U.S. now intended to keep European powers from having an influence in the Western Hemisphere and they were willing to use force to do it.