The Roosevelt Era :: American History

Chapter 30 American on the World Stage 1899-1909Summary Foreign affairs led Roosevelt from domestic to international involvement. Page673-681capital of South Carolina blocks the Canal Foreign affairs absorbed much of Roosevelts energy and had more knowledge of outside world than most of his predecessors. Americans from Spanish-American War wanted transmission channel 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.SCould not secure control over such route. 1901 with unfriendly European force 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 alone the cut Can al 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 authoritative 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 wages 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 PanamaPanamanians ready for another revolt because fear successfulness 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. 1903 Panama revolution occurred when Colombian troops were gathered to crush uprising but U.s. naval forces wo uld 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 Americas uperior moral pretensions. Completing the Canal and Appeasing ColombiaPanama made an ugly U.S.