Panama Canal

Definition

The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, allowing for more efficient maritime trade and transportation between the two bodies of water. It has been a critical geopolitical and economic asset for the United States since its construction in the early 20th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The construction of the Panama Canal was a major foreign policy and economic goal for the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
2. The canal's strategic location allowed the U.S. to project naval power and influence in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, supporting its vision of becoming a global imperial power.
3. The Spanish-American War of 1898 and the subsequent acquisition of overseas territories like the Philippines increased the U.S. Navy's need for a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
4. President Theodore Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' foreign policy and the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine provided the justification for U.S. intervention in Panama to secure the canal's construction.
5. The completion of the Panama Canal in 1914 was a significant achievement of the Progressive Era and a symbol of American technological and engineering prowess.

Review Questions

• Explain how the construction of the Panama Canal was connected to the concept of Manifest Destiny and the United States' vision of becoming a global imperial power.
  • The construction of the Panama Canal was closely tied to the 19th century idea of Manifest Destiny, which held that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. By building the canal, the U.S. could more effectively project naval power and commercial influence throughout the Caribbean and Pacific regions, supporting its ambitions to become a global imperial power. The canal's strategic location allowed the U.S. to solidify its control over maritime trade routes and assert its economic and political dominance in the Western Hemisphere, furthering the nation's vision of continental and overseas expansion.
• Describe how President Theodore Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' foreign policy and the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine provided the justification for U.S. intervention in Panama to secure the canal's construction.
  • Theodore Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' foreign policy, which emphasized the use of American military power to achieve diplomatic and economic goals, provided the rationale for U.S. intervention in Panama to ensure the construction of the canal. Additionally, the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine asserted the United States' right to intervene in Latin American countries to prevent European interference, further justifying American involvement in the Panamanian revolution that led to the country's independence from Colombia and the subsequent negotiation of the canal treaty. These foreign policy doctrines allowed the U.S. to assert its hegemonic influence in the region and secure the strategic and economic benefits of the Panama Canal.
• Analyze how the completion of the Panama Canal in 1914 was a significant achievement of the Progressive Era and a symbol of American technological and engineering prowess.
  • The successful completion of the Panama Canal in 1914 was a major accomplishment of the Progressive Era, a period of social, political, and economic reform in the United States. The canal's construction, which had been attempted and failed by the French in the late 19th century, demonstrated the United States' technological and engineering capabilities, as well as its ability to overcome significant logistical and environmental challenges. The canal's completion was a symbol of American ingenuity, modernization, and the nation's growing global influence. It solidified the United States' position as an emerging world power and a leader in large-scale infrastructure projects, further reinforcing the country's vision of Manifest Destiny and its ambitions to become a dominant imperial force on the world stage.

Related terms

Manifest Destiny: The 19th century belief that the United States was destined to expand across North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans.

Dollar Diplomacy: A foreign policy pursued by the United States in the early 20th century that sought to further American economic and financial interests abroad.

Roosevelt Corollary: An addition to the Monroe Doctrine that asserted the United States' right to intervene in Latin American countries to prevent European interference.