Roosevelt's Influence During The Panamanian Revolution

In 1901, after the assassination of William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt became the United State’s youngest president and he viewed his presidency as a way to “increase the influence and prestige of the United States on the world stage and make the country a global power” (Milkis 1). His accomplishments were made using American influence rather than force. Previously, presidents had used the American armies to ensure that America was seen as a capable leader. Roosevelt thought ahead and saw that helping other countries emblematically during times of war would benefit the United States. He realized that the US did not have to necessarily place boots on the soil in order to make advances whereas his predecessors did not. The Panamanian Revolution is an example of this thought process.

In the eyes of the Panamanians, this was militarily helpful. American presence during the Panamanian Revolution showed the Panamanians that the US was reliable and convinced them to allow the building of the Panama Canal. The construction of the canal and the years it took to get there show that Roosevelt did not use the approach of others. He formed his own opinions on the matters of how foreign affairs should be handled, rather than just following in the footsteps of those before him. His use of other countries’ matters of contention in order to put the United States in a position of power had rarely been used before and its repercussions proved to be effective. Due to the fact that he was not afraid to be different, America reaped the benefits of his