November 2, 1903
A U.S. ship, the Nashville , arrived
in Panama and provided support for the Panamanian revolution. Shortly after, a
Colombian ship, the Cartagena, arrived filled with troops
ordered to stop the rumors of Panamanian independence. November 4, 1903
Panama claimed it's independence from Colombia a day after capturing the
Colombian general Valencia Tovar. The United States formally recognized the Republic of Panama two days later,
and deployed Navy ships to protect the new country.
On November 18th, 1903, the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, or Canal Treaty, was signed in the newly independent republic of Panama, giving the United States rights to build a canal for an annual payment of $250,000. The U.S. took great precautions to ensure they did not make the same mistakes that the French had made. Yellow fever was a disease carried by mosquitos that was killing hundreds and hundreds of people working on the canal. $90,000 worth of copper screening had to be purchased to significantly reduce the yellow fever epidemic.
On November 15, 1906, President Roosevelt visited Panama to see the progress. This was the first time a sitting President left the U.S. He would then return to the U.S. and proceed to give a report to congress about the successes and the complications.
On November 18th, 1903, the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty, or Canal Treaty, was signed in the newly independent republic of Panama, giving the United States rights to build a canal for an annual payment of $250,000. The U.S. took great precautions to ensure they did not make the same mistakes that the French had made. Yellow fever was a disease carried by mosquitos that was killing hundreds and hundreds of people working on the canal. $90,000 worth of copper screening had to be purchased to significantly reduce the yellow fever epidemic.
On November 15, 1906, President Roosevelt visited Panama to see the progress. This was the first time a sitting President left the U.S. He would then return to the U.S. and proceed to give a report to congress about the successes and the complications.