The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty was an agreement signed in 1903 between the United States and Panama, which granted the U.S. the right to build, operate, and defend the Panama Canal in exchange for financial compensation and the recognition of Panama's independence from Colombia.
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The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty was a key component of President Theodore Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' foreign policy, which emphasized the use of American power to shape events in the Western Hemisphere.
The treaty granted the U.S. the perpetual control of the Panama Canal Zone, a 10-mile-wide strip of land on either side of the canal, effectively giving the U.S. sovereignty over the area.
The treaty was negotiated by U.S. Secretary of State John Hay and Philippe Bunau-Varilla, a French engineer who had played a significant role in the construction of the canal.
The treaty provided the U.S. with the right to intervene militarily in Panama to protect the canal, solidifying its strategic importance in the region.
The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty was controversial, as it was negotiated without the involvement of the Panamanian government and was seen by some as a violation of Panama's sovereignty.
Review Questions
Explain how the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty was a key component of President Theodore Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' foreign policy.
The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty was a crucial element of Theodore Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' foreign policy, which emphasized the use of American power and influence to shape events in the Western Hemisphere. By granting the United States perpetual control over the strategically important Panama Canal Zone, the treaty solidified U.S. dominance in the region and allowed the country to project its military and economic might throughout Latin America. The treaty's provisions, which gave the U.S. the right to intervene militarily in Panama to protect the canal, were a clear manifestation of Roosevelt's assertive approach to foreign affairs and his belief in the use of American power to achieve national interests.
Describe the controversial aspects of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty and how it was perceived by some as a violation of Panama's sovereignty.
The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty was controversial because it was negotiated without the involvement of the Panamanian government. The treaty was seen by some as a violation of Panama's sovereignty, as it granted the United States perpetual control over the strategically important Panama Canal Zone, effectively giving the U.S. sovereignty over a significant portion of Panamanian territory. This arrangement was viewed by many as an imposition of American power and influence in the region, with the U.S. using its economic and military might to secure its interests at the expense of Panamanian autonomy. The treaty's critics argued that it undermined Panama's ability to govern its own affairs and called into question the legitimacy of the country's newly won independence from Colombia.
Analyze how the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty and the Roosevelt Corollary were interconnected components of U.S. foreign policy in the early 20th century.
The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty and the Roosevelt Corollary were closely linked as part of the United States' broader foreign policy approach in the early 20th century. The Roosevelt Corollary, which asserted the U.S. right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries to prevent European interference, provided the ideological justification for the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty. By granting the U.S. perpetual control over the strategically important Panama Canal Zone, the treaty allowed the country to project its power and influence throughout the region, in line with the Roosevelt Corollary's emphasis on American hegemony in the Western Hemisphere. Moreover, the treaty's provisions giving the U.S. the right to intervene militarily in Panama to protect the canal were a direct manifestation of the Roosevelt Corollary's assertion of American power. Together, these two policies reflected the United States' growing ambitions as a global power and its desire to shape events in Latin America to align with its own strategic and economic interests.
An addition to the Monroe Doctrine that asserted the U.S. right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries to prevent European interference.
A foreign policy approach promoted by President William Howard Taft that sought to advance U.S. interests abroad through economic and financial means rather than military force.