USS Nashville was the ship sent in 1903.
Philippe Bunau-Varilla was the man that lit the candle for Panama's independence from Colombia.http://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/panama-canal-that-time-a-fire-department-won-a-revolution
The United States provided the warships to get Panama's independence in exchange for the rights to build the Panama Canal.
The nation of Panama was created in 1903 because Roosevelt sent the U.S navy to support a revolution on the isthmus. This allowed Panama to become independent of Colombia and the US to get the land to build the Panama Canal.
The Colombian government had been blocking U.S. plans to build a canal in Panama.
to make a short cut from east coast to west coast
The United States encouraged Panama to gain independence in order to construct the Panama Canal.
Panama also has an Independence Day, celebrating the separation of Panama from Colombia on November 3, 1903. Panama's Independence Day has thus been on November 3 since then.
In 1903 Panama had a Revolution and threw out its Colombian rulers. No roads existed so that Colombia could send an army to Panama and put down the revolution. When Colombia tried to send in an army by boat, a fleet from the United States blocked the way. The United States Navy had more boats and bigger boats than the Colombian Navy. Other nations recognized Panama and that made Panama a free independent country.
The Colombian government had been blocking U.S. plans to build a canal in Panama. So Teddy Roosevelt supported Panamanian rebels to get what he wanted.
Roosevelt wanted very much for the US to build a canal across the isthmus of Panama which was controlled by Colombia. Colombia wouldn't allow the canal being built there , so when Panamians revolted form Colombia, , Roosevelt was quick to give them US support.
He was the leader of the spanish revolution