(a) Describe the construction of the Panama Canal between 1904 and 1914. [5] (b) Explain why President Theodore Roosevelt supported the independence of Pana...

(a) Construction of the Panama Canal between 1904 and 1914

The United States took over construction of the Panama Canal from the failed French project in 1904. Chief Engineer John Stevens reorganized the work, making the critical decision to build a system of locks rather than attempting a sea-level canal, which had defeated the French effort. Colonel George Goethals replaced Stevens in 1907 and oversaw the project through to completion.

A crucial element of success was the work of Dr. William Gorgas, who led efforts to control malaria and yellow fever by draining swamps and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds. Disease had killed thousands of workers during the French attempt, and Gorgas's public health measures were essential to making the project viable. Approximately 75,000 workers, many recruited from Caribbean nations, labored on the massive project. The canal opened on 15 August 1914, creating a 50-mile waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and dramatically reducing shipping distances.

(b) Why President Theodore Roosevelt supported the independence of Panama from Colombia in 1903

Roosevelt's support for Panamanian independence was driven by his determination to build a canal across Central America. A canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans was essential for both commercial shipping and naval strategy, allowing warships to move quickly between oceans without the long voyage around South America.

Colombia controlled the province of Panama, and its Senate rejected the Hay-Herran Treaty of 1903, which would have granted the United States a canal zone in exchange for payment. Roosevelt considered Colombia's rejection unreasonable and feared that further delays would undermine the entire project. When Panamanian rebels declared independence in November 1903, Roosevelt acted swiftly: the USS Nashville was positioned to prevent Colombian forces from suppressing the revolt. The United States recognized Panama's independence within days and quickly signed the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, securing a ten-mile-wide Canal Zone under American control.

Roosevelt believed the canal's strategic importance outweighed diplomatic concerns about undermining Colombian sovereignty. His actions demonstrated the aggressive, interventionist approach to foreign policy that characterized his presidency - an approach he summarized as 'speak softly and carry a big stick.'

(c) 'The Panama Canal was the greatest achievement of American foreign policy between 1880 and 1914.' How far do you agree?

Evidence supporting the statement: The canal was an extraordinary engineering achievement that reduced the sea voyage between New York and San Francisco from 13,000 miles to 5,000 miles. It demonstrated American engineering and organizational capability on a global stage. The canal strengthened US naval power by allowing the fleet to move rapidly between oceans and boosted international trade. It reinforced American dominance in the Western Hemisphere and remained strategically vital throughout the twentieth century.

Evidence challenging the statement (alternative achievements): The Open Door Policy of 1899-1900 extended American influence into the vast Chinese market, projecting US power into East Asia. The Roosevelt Corollary of 1904 established the United States as the self-appointed policeman of the Western Hemisphere, fundamentally reshaping relations with Latin America for decades. The Spanish-American War of 1898 transformed the United States from a continental power into a colonial empire with territories across the Pacific. Dollar Diplomacy under President Taft used financial investment to extend American influence in Central America and the Caribbean. Each of these developments arguably had a broader long-term impact on America's global role than the canal alone.

Balanced conclusion: The Panama Canal was a tangible and lasting achievement of American foreign policy, but it was one element in a broader pattern of imperial expansion that collectively transformed America's role in the world. Whether it was the 'greatest' achievement depends on how one defines the term: as a single physical accomplishment, the canal is unmatched; but as a strategic shift in America's global position, the Spanish-American War and its aftermath were arguably more transformative.