1. The United States and Latin America
Chapter 22 Sections 2-3
The United States and Latin America

2. The Panama Canal
The U.S. wanted a short-cut that would connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
First country to attempt: France
President Roosevelt sent troops to Colombia when they refused to sell us the land for the canal.
Troops helped support a revolution by a group called the Panamanians – when they won, they formed their own country of Panama

4. Panama Canal, con’t
Canal is built by using a series of “Locks” – which raise and lower ships across 50 mile isthmus
Took ten years to build –
Cost $375 million to build
6,000 workers died building the canal

5. Panama Canal cont….
U.S. paid Panama $10 million plus $250,000 per year for 99 year lease
Canal zone owned and operated by the U.S. until the year 2000 – now owned by Panama

6. Policing the Hemisphere
Teddy Roosevelt made it clear the U.S. would be dominant in Western Hemisphere.
Monroe Doctrine: Policy preventing other nations from intervening in Latin America
Roosevelt added the Roosevelt Corollary: Still prevented European intervention, but added that U.S. could act as “Policeman” in region
We could “Intervene” in domestic affairs if it helped the ‘stability’ of the region

7. Dollar Diplomacy: influencing governments through economic not military intervention.
Wilson and Democracy:
President Wilson rejected Taft’s dollar diplomacy and said the United States had a moral obligation to promote democracy in Latin America.