how did the Panama Canal increase americas power in the world
how did the panama canal increase americas power in the world
US imperialism a goal of US president Theodore Roosevelt who helped end the power of dictator Noriega of Panama. One of the benefits of the Panama Canal was to increase shipping of commerce between North and South America towards the improvement of import and export business.
America took over a good portion of a sovereign country, Panama, for American purposes. When we exercised such powers over our part of Panama's country we acted as an 'imperial' power. (We exercised supreme power over more land than we occupied up in the USA.)
The Panama Canal was an example of Theodore Roosevelt's support of American imperialism and Big Stick diplomacy. He believed in expanding U.S. influence through strategic military and economic power. The canal demonstrated his commitment to strengthening global trade routes and asserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
For the same reason "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was conducted in 2003; to remove Saddam Hussian from power in Iraq. "Operation Just Cause", conducted in 1989, removed General Manual Noriega from power in Panama. The common theme is they both stopped following orders and started acting independent of US policy, prior to which and despite of their respective crimes they were regional Allies.
The US has benefited from the Panama Canal, which makes it possible to travel from one side of the US to the other (by ship) without having to go around the southern tip of South America, which makes the trip tremendously shorter, faster, and less expensive.
Powerful politicians wanted to build the canal elsewhere in Central America, in a more politically stable country, but TR saw that building it in Panama would save hundreds of millions of dollars. Panama was, at the time, a province of Colombia, that was dissatisfied with how they were being ruled from Bogota. With a degree of TR's assistance, the Panamanians rebelled and allowed the canal to be built. The canal was an enormous breakthrough for world trade and was of strategic importance.
America wanted to become an imperial power because they were mad at the King.
One example of America's use of the "big stick" policy was during the construction of the Panama Canal in the early 1900s. President Theodore Roosevelt asserted U.S. influence in Latin America by supporting a revolution in Panama against Colombia, allowing the U.S. to secure control over the canal zone. This demonstrated the policy's principle of using military power as a means to achieve diplomatic goals, emphasizing a willingness to use force if necessary to protect American interests in the region.
Big stick diplomacy -Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far. *Meaning that if you say something to someone and they don't do it you use military power to get it done
The history of Panamas Government was very closely linked to the building of the Panama Canal. In 1903 it belonged to the Columbians, who rejected a treaty that would allow the US to build the Canal. A revolution ensued, led by a French railroad company, and a group of wealthy people who would profit from the building of the canal. The government that formed was called the Republic of Panama. It is still in power today, despite the series of events that occurred in the 1980's involving Manuel Niroega. === ===