Why did the United States secure the independence of Panama in 1903?
A)The government of Colombia, of which Panama had been a province, had committed brutal atrocities.
B)President Roosevelt believed in the right to self-determination even for nonwhite peoples.
C)Columbia had rejected Roosevelt's canal proposal and Panama offered to secure this waterway.
D)The United States resented the Latin American presence of Great Britain, the colonial power that had ruled in Panama.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The United States supported the independence of Panama from Colombia because Colombia had rejected a proposal from the U.S. to build a canal, and Panama, in turn, offered to allow the U.S. to construct and control the canal. This strategic waterway was crucial for military and economic reasons, facilitating a quicker passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Why Did the United States Secure the Independence of Panama