Context Lecture


People had dreamed of building a canal across central America to connect the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans.

Columbia controlled Panama and in 1879 a
French company obtained a lease from
Columbia to build a canal but FAILED.


A narrow strip of land connecting two larger bodies of land.


Why would people want to build a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans?


The U.S. Bought the French lease and negotiated a treaty with Columbia

Columbia went back on the treaty and the U.S.
Supported Panama's revolt against Columbia.

Panama's revolt was successful and the U.S. acquired a 10-mile strip of land across Panama.


Construction on the canal began but disease plagued the workers

Yellow fever and Malaria killed many.

Without controlling disease, the canal could not have been built


Do you think this cartoon does a good job of showing what the construction of the Panama
Canal was really like?

Why or why not?


Roosevelt worried that instability in the Latin
America would lead European powers to intervene.

Roosevelt asserted America's right to act as a
“policeman” in Latin America saying “Speak softly and carry a big stick”

The United States now claimed the right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American nations whenever those nations seemed unstable.


What is one thing you find interesting about this painting?


President Howard Taft hoped to modify
American foreign policy by “substituting dollars for bullets”

President Taft was willing to intervene in other nations whenever American Business interests were threatened

Linked American business interests to diplomatic interests


What is one question you would ask the creator of this cartoon?

How do you think they would answer?


Mexican Rebel

Killed dozens of Americans due to their support of the Mexican leader Carranza.

The United States sent a large force of troops into Mexico to capture Villa but the Mexican people protected him.

Villa was never found.


Think back to our definition for Imperialism...

Why did the United States want to keep Europe out of Latin America and build a canal across
Panama?