US History: Theodore Roosevelt, the Panama Canal, and the Debate over Imperialism

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919): Historian, Cowboy, Buffalo hunter, Crime fighter, 26th President of the US

Childhood-College:

1. Wealthy merchant family from NY

2. Had asthma; Dad made him overcome it with exercise

3. Harvard: History; Post grad work : Law

Adulthood:

1. Feb 1884, TR lost his first wife (died in childbirth) and his mother

(typhoid) on same day

2. Lived on ranch in Dakota Territory (hunted, rode horses, studied

history)

3. Assistant Secretary of the Navy

a. Resigned when Spanish-American War started to organize the First

US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (“Rough Riders”)

4. Governor of NY

5. Vice President of the US until Sept 1901 when an assassin’s bullet

killed President McKinley.

6. President of the US at age 42, the youngest man ever to hold the office

Beliefs:

1. US needed to be strong and sure of themselves

2. Anglo-Saxon race (whites who spoke English) was superior

3. Pro- American Imperialism

4. Pro- Going to war with Spain

5. Pro- Expanding America’s empire by acquiring new territories

6. “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”

Nobel Peace Prize:

1. TR wants to keep Japan and Russia in check in Asia.

2. He supports Japan in war against Russia, then mediates peace

agreement between two countries in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

before Japan can crush Russia completely.

a. He persuades Japan to take small land grants and control over

Korea instead of money

b. He persuades Russia to leave Manchuria

3. His role as ‘mediator’ wins him the Nobel Peace Prize

The Panama Canal: Need for quick route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

1. NYC to San Francisco by boat before canal = 15,000 miles

2. NYC to San Francisco by boat after canal = 6,100 miles

Why Panama Canal?

1. Panama was province of Columbia

2. 1879-French company bought 25 year concession from Columbia to build

   canal across Panama.

3. 1879-French company bought 25 year concession from Columbia to build

   canal across Panama.

4. 1. 10 years later, French abandon project because of yellow fever and

   mismanagement

   2. French offer its remaining rights to US for $100 million; We refuse

   3. 1901- Price drops to $40 million; US Congress accepts, but Columbian

   land lease still needed

   D. Columbia waiting/wanted French concession to expire (1904) so it could

   sell it area for a higher price

   E. Teddy Roosevelt angered by Columbians ‘greed’.

   1. Conspires with French company to organize a Panamanian ‘revolution’

   against Columbia.

   a. Nov 1903- US warships provide support for rebels.

   b. When over, US recognizes an independent Panama and becomes

   its protector.

   c. In return, US received a permanent grant of a ten-mile wide strip of

   land for a Canal Zone

Construction:

1. Began 1904, workers from 97 countries, many with no construction

experience

2. Finished 1914 (six months ahead of schedule and $23 million under

budget)

1921, Congress votes to pay $25 million to Columbia after feeling guilty

about the illegal way we acquired the Canal Zone (TR was dead)