How Did Roosevelt Build The Panama Canal

Theodore Roosevelt took the powers of the president to new heights in the international arena with his involvement in building the Panama Canal and building up the Navy. Roosevelt believed that building a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was key to becoming a dominate naval power. The proposed site for the canal was in the northern part of Columbia, modern day Panama. Roosevelt attempted to reach a deal to build the canal with the Columbian government, but when the deal fell apart Roosevelt had to find another way to build the canal. Aware of an oncoming revolution in Panama, Roosevelt strategically placed United States Navy ships in Panama to cut off Columbian supply lines to the region. It only took three days for the rebels in Panama to win their independence from Columbia and soon after that the United States and Panama agreed to a treaty to transfer the right to build the canal. The Panama Canal was only the first part of Roosevelts plan to establish naval dominance in the Western Hemisphere. …show more content…
Congress appropriated the money for the build of the Navy, but Theodore Roosevelt wanted to show off the new ships. Roosevelt planned a grand gesture, sending all the new ships to circumnavigate the world. He believed this show of force would permanently establish the United States as a world power and prove the United States was capable of defending its interests in every corner of the world. Roosevelt ran into trouble when Congress refused to fund his military display, which they view as unnecessary. Roosevelt sent the ships out anyway, daring Congress to take the money back and leave the ships half way around the world. This cemented the president’s role as commander in chief and set a precedent future presidents would use to command the armed forces without Congressional