Summary
In 1903, lawmakers in the South American nation of Colombia rejected a treaty strongly supported by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt that would have allowed the United States to build a canal across Panama, a province of Colombia, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Rejection of the treaty sparked a revolution in Panama, which quickly won its independence from Colombia. One of Panama's first actions was to negotiate a new treaty granting the United States the right to construct the canal. Did President Roosevelt "steal" the canal from Colombia by encouraging—or even helping to engineer—the Panamanian revolution, or did the United States obtain it fairly?
This eBook examines the events behind the Panama Canal and delves into the pro and con arguments that surrounded them. It includes a timeline, primary sources, a bibliography, and a "Learn More About" chapter with more information on the topic.