Roosevelt becomes President after McKinley is assassinated

USA needs to quickly move from Atlantic to Pacific Ocean

Decides to build canal through Panama

Panama Canal

Panama Canal France began construction

on the canal in 1881.◦ Led by engineer Ferdinand

de Lesseps About $287,000,000 had

been spent 20,000 French men had

died◦ Mostly of yellow fever and

malaria, ◦ French gave up

Panama Canal Colombia refused to

grant the U.S. permission to complete the canal project.

Therefore, the U.S. encouraged the Panamanian people to revolt against Colombia.

On November 3, 1903, Panama declared their independence from Colombia and allowed the U.S. to build the canal.

Panama Canal U.S. workers first

sprayed tons of insecticide across Panama in order to destroy the mosquito eggs in an attempt to limit cases of malaria and yellow fever.

1905 fumigation car eradicating the mosquitoes - Panama City

Panama Canal

 

Panama Canal Using mainly black workers from the West Indies

The U.S. finished the canal in 1914.

1909 Arrival of SS. Ancon with 1500 laborers from Barbados  at the Cristobal Port in Colon, Panama

Panama Canal Animation: How the P

anama Canal Works

Roosevelt Corollary Established by Pres.

Theodore Roosevelt in 1904

U.S. had right to intervene in Latin America to preserve law and order

Extension of the Monroe Doctrine

The U.S. used the Roosevelt Corollary frequently, angering Latin American countries.

The Big Stick and the Caribbean Sea