With the help of the United States, a revolution occurred in Colombia that led to Panama’s proclaiming its independence on November 4, 1903. America’s interest in building the canal was voiced by important U.S. Leaders in the 1890s, claiming it would speed trade to bind the East and West coasts while saving millions of dollars in shipping and it would allow a single US fleet to shuttle through it and defend both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts at great monetary savings. The United States planned to take control of the planning of the canal. With the Platt Amendment, the U.S. planted a base in Cuba and other islands in the region and sought to deny any European powers to have an opportunity in the Western hemisphere. At the same time, the United States debated on whether they wanted to control Colombia or Nicaragua so that they could build the canal. There was no question on whether or not the United States would have a canal but where and when would it be dug.
Meanwhile, when the Spanish American War broke out the U.S. Battleship Oregon was stationed in San Francisco and had to sail around the Straits of Magellan and north to Cuba. This is when public interest in canal peaked. With the absence of canal, the trip to Europe increased from 4,000 miles by an additional 8,000 and added estimated 20 days at sea.
President Roosevelt was willing to allow Congress to decide whether the US should build a canal through Colombia or through Nicaragua. Congress wanted the best choice and listened to an agent for the New Panama Canal Company, director of company was Phillipe Bunau-Varilla. Congressmen serving on a committee were sent to inspect the sites where the canal might be built were invited to talk with officials in French. The Congressmen did not pick Nicaragua because a volcano erupted in 1902 and Bunau-Varilla made postage stamps and sent them to the members of Congress. Soon, Congress selected Panama.
Secretary of State John Hay to make treaty with Colombia giving the US rights to build a canal through the northern tip of the country. When talks between Hay and Colombia stopped, US threatened to build in Nicaragua. The threat against worked and the treaty between Hay and Colombia was signed in Fall 1902. In the treaty, the United States was given complete control over the area and was given the right to build a canal on a strip six miles wide and 53 miles long. In exchange of privileges, the US agreed to pay Colombia $10 million and additional 250,000 a year until the year 2000. After 2000, the canal would belong to Colombia. Finally, Roosevelt approved of treaty and it was ratified by Senate. Unfortunately, the Colombian senate delayed ratification thinking it could wait a year for the rights of the Panama Canal Company to expire and these rights, worth $40 million could be sold to the United States.
Meanwhile, when the Spanish American War broke out the U.S. Battleship Oregon was stationed in San Francisco and had to sail around the Straits of Magellan and north to Cuba. This is when public interest in canal peaked. With the absence of canal, the trip to Europe increased from 4,000 miles by an additional 8,000 and added estimated 20 days at sea.
President Roosevelt was willing to allow Congress to decide whether the US should build a canal through Colombia or through Nicaragua. Congress wanted the best choice and listened to an agent for the New Panama Canal Company, director of company was Phillipe Bunau-Varilla. Congressmen serving on a committee were sent to inspect the sites where the canal might be built were invited to talk with officials in French. The Congressmen did not pick Nicaragua because a volcano erupted in 1902 and Bunau-Varilla made postage stamps and sent them to the members of Congress. Soon, Congress selected Panama.
Secretary of State John Hay to make treaty with Colombia giving the US rights to build a canal through the northern tip of the country. When talks between Hay and Colombia stopped, US threatened to build in Nicaragua. The threat against worked and the treaty between Hay and Colombia was signed in Fall 1902. In the treaty, the United States was given complete control over the area and was given the right to build a canal on a strip six miles wide and 53 miles long. In exchange of privileges, the US agreed to pay Colombia $10 million and additional 250,000 a year until the year 2000. After 2000, the canal would belong to Colombia. Finally, Roosevelt approved of treaty and it was ratified by Senate. Unfortunately, the Colombian senate delayed ratification thinking it could wait a year for the rights of the Panama Canal Company to expire and these rights, worth $40 million could be sold to the United States.