1-6 Notes 2: The Panama Canal and Justifications for American Imperialism
Theodore Roosevelt – “Speak softly, and carry a big stick”
Teddy Roosevelt was born to wealthy parents in 1858 in New York City. He was born a sick child, but quickly
began to follow what he deemed a “strenuous life”. He was devoted to exercise, outdoor activities, and
scholarly studies. Roosevelt became a state legislator soon after college, but took a break from politics after
both his mother and wife died within 12 hours of each other. He moved west to be a cattle rancher in the
Dakotas. Although being a cowboy only lasted two years, this part of his life stayed with him forever. In 1897,
Roosevelt became assistant secretary of the navy. He then served in Cuba during the war leading the voluntary
“Rough Riders” cavalry. A book of his accounts during the war brought him to the public eye and helped him
become governor of New York. In the 1900’s, President McKinley was running for his second term and
nominated Roosevelt to be his running mate. McKinley’s platform was based on imperialism, a stance that
Roosevelt himself embodied. Teddy Roosevelt was not only experienced in politics and war, but he also was
had more gusto than other politicians at the time. His strong personality overshadowed McKinley in the
election, but they won the race. Less than a year after the election, on September 6, 1901, McKinley was shot
and Teddy Roosevelt became president. Roosevelt’s attitude of strength and his overwhelming personality
would mark his presidency.
The Panama Canal
The aftermath of the Spanish American War was a greater involvement in foreign affairs for the U.S. The
Caribbean and Pacific were the major stages for this involvement since America gained territory there from the
Spanish. For centuries, explorers and engineers had dreamed of carving a passage through the narrow isthmus in
Central America.
Isthmus: A narrow strip of land surrounded by water
During the Spanish American War, the need for an easy passage between the Pacific and Atlantic was realized
when it took the Oregon months to travel around Cape Horn in South America to reach Cuba. American
engineers identified two possible routes through Central America – one through Nicaragua, which posed fewer
problems because much of it would be cut through a lake, and the other through Panama. The Panamanian route
was shorter but would cut through swamps and mountains. In the late 1800’s a French company began to work
on the Panamanian route, but gave up. It sent an agent to Washington to convince the U.S. to buy the project. In
1903, after negotiations, the U.S. bought the French company’s route for $40 million.
At the time the country of Columbia actually ruled Panama. The U.S. would have to obtain Columbia’s
permission before proceeding with work. When Columbia refused the treaty, the U.S. and the French
company’s representative helped to stage a revolution in Panama. A dozen U.S. warships were present when
Panama declared its independence in November 1903. Two weeks afterwards, Panama and the U.S. signed a
treaty that allowed the U.S. to rent and control the “Canal Zone”. The U.S. agreed to pay $10 million outright
and $250,000 a year for rent. Ill feelings were formed, though, between the U.S. and Columbia. The U.S. tried
to buy its way out of this by paying Columbia $25 million in 1921 to compensate for its lost territory.
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1-6 Notes 2: The Panama Canal and Justifications for American Imperialism
Constructing the Panama Canal was a great feat of engineering and perseverance. Work began in 1904 and the
canal opened on August 15, 1914. At the height of construction in 1913, more than 43,000 workers were
employed. 75% were blacks from the British West Indies and others had come from Southern Europe. More
than 5600 canal workers died on the project from accidents or terrible diseases such as yellow fever and
malaria. The terrain was also difficult and in the end, it cost the U.S. $380 million to complete. The canal
operates on a system of locks. A ship sails in through one gate in the lock, the gate is closed, the water level is
raised, and then the ship can sail out to the next higher lock. This was the only way to move ships across the
mountainous region.
Justifications for Imperialism - Monroe Doctrine
In 1823 President Monroe created the Monroe Doctrine. This defined United States foreign policy in the
Americas at the time. It declared that the United States had an interest in the Western Hemisphere and that
European powers must not meddle in the affairs of any developing nations there. This meant that the U.S. had
decided that no European power could establish colonies in Central or South America.
In his December 1904 message to Congress, President Roosevelt added the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe
Doctrine.
Corollary: additional statement that logically follows the first one
This stated that the U.S. had the right to exercise international police power in the Americas, including force if
necessary. The U.S. continued to establish itself as a world power, but at this time focus was on the Americas.
Justifications for Imperialism – Cultural Superiority
During this time, some people believed in the idea of Social Darwinism. They took Darwin’s scientific notion
of “survival of the fittest” and applied it to culture. They felt that since white Anglo-Saxons (people of British,
German, and Scandinavian decent) had developed certain technological advances like guns that they had the
right to conquer those who were not as “advanced.” Of course this attitude defines culture, civilization, and
achievement from the side of those doing the conquering.
Along with Social Darwinism came the idea of helping out those who were “less civilized.” This originally took
the form of missionary work – people would devote their life to Christianizing and westernizing tribal people
from other countries. This idea then moved on to be a governmental and social justification for imperialism.
People who believed in this felt that by colonizing a country and placing it under imperial rule, the U.S. was
Americanizing the people of that country and improving their lives. The famous English writer, Rudyard
Kipling, wrote a poem that was released in a popular magazine of the time. “White Man’s Burden” was the
name of the poem and it told Americans to sacrifice themselves in order to help the savages in the world. This
concept of “helping” through imperialism is still used as a justification for imperialism today.
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