THE PANAMA CANAL
A MAN, A PLAN, A CANAL
A. Interest in canal stirred by ______________________ because
U.S. emerged not only as a Pacific power, but a _______________
power. (At outbreak of war, the “Oregon” had to get from Pacific to
Cuba- just in time. Voyage took 2 months.)
B. Legal Obstacles to overcome
1. Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850:
2. Hay-Paunceforte Treaty of 1900:
a.
b.
c.
d.
C. Picking a site
1. New Panama Canal Co., successor to the de Lesseps organization,
asking 109 million for its holdings
a. Walker Commission:
b. In light of:
c. Philippe Bunau-Varilla
(_______________________________________)
contacts John Hay (Sec. of State) and T.R. to reinforce
Panama as choice.
d. Bunau-Varilla sends letters to all Senators encouraging
Panama route:
e. June 28th 1902:
2. Hay gets treaty from Thomas Herran, Columbian minister to
Washington- January 2nd 1903.
a. Terms:
1.
2.
3.
b. August 1903- Columbian senate rejects treaty because
they want more money.
1.
2.
3.
3. Panamanian Revolt
a.
b. Waldorf-Astoria hotel room-
c. Nov. 4th 1903-
d. Nov. 6th 1903-
e. Nov. 18th 1903- Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty:
1.
2.
3.
D. In retrospect
a. T.R. tactics will, in the long run create_________________
_______________________________________________.
b. The Nicaraguan route would have been less trouble, i.e.
1.
2.
(thereby creating good will, not bad will.)
In 1914, the Senate was willing to “apologize to Colombia and pay her $25
million, but T.R. and friends would not go along w/ it while he was alive. In
1921, w/ T.R. in his grave, Colombia got $25 million.