History is a critical aspect of the development of the United States. It explains how the United States developed from a mere British colony to one of the world’s superpower countries today. One of America’s historical facets that have faced a lot of controversies is the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It provided an alternative ocean trade route for America, allowing room for America’s economic growth and development (Hogan 79). Currently, the Americans regard the canal as the symbol of nationalism and America’s powers, but it was not the case when the US was taking over the control of the canal. It was associated with a lot of negative criticisms due to the many scandals it had caused. The president at the time, President Theodore Roosevelt, took the initiative of transforming the canal’s story into a positive one. This essay retells the story of the Panama Canal by explaining why a heroic story regarding the canal had to be created, President Roosevelt’s role in the project, and how the canal became America’s symbol of nationalism.
As mentioned above, the Panama Canal was highly despised because of its scandals. The Colombians and the French had tried to make the project succeed, but they could not do so because of poor professional plans. The conditions had still not improved by the time the US took over the project. Hogan (80) explained that the American leaders had failed to “settle on a comprehensive plan for either a sea-level or a lock-type canal also hampered the project.” Such failures had resulted in numerous accidents that caused the lives of hundreds of workers. There was the issue of poor working conditions and diseases. The workers lived in extremely dirty places that made them contract diseases. In 1905, Railroad man John F. Stevens joined Panama after the resignation of Chief Engineer Wallace (Hogan 81). Despite his efforts to improve the conditions, Stevens still complained that the workers ate poor food and lived in congested rooms, where almost everyone had been afflicted by running nose (Hogan 81). These challenges were criticized as a lack of organization that was costing the lives of America.
The climax of the Panama Canal scandal was when Poultney Bigelow, a specialized journalist in colored races, wrote his critique in The Independent in 1906. Bigelow claimed that the project was politicized as the leaders never gave the whole truth. He accused the leaders of not going to the site to make real observations because of “fear for catching germs” (Hogan 82). He also raised racial issues by claiming that black women were being taken to Panama to work as prostitutes to “entertain” the workers at the canal (Hogan 82). Hogan’s criticism and other of the canal’s scandalous experiences made it difficult for Americans to hate the Panama Canal project. There was pressure on Congress and the Senate to drop the project because it was doming America’s image of success. However, President Roosevelt’s administration had focused on completing the project, but such negative publicity would make it difficult. Thus, there was a need for President Roosevelt to conduct a campaign that would change the image of the Panama Canal. His goal was for Americans to realize how the canal would benefit the United States.
Consequently, President Roosevelt played a significant role in changing the negative narrative of the Panama Canal Project. He defended the project by criticizing those who were emphasizing spreading the negative reputation of the project. He claimed Bigelow was among the “sensation mongers,” and his (Bigelow) accusation regarding the conditions at the canal had “proved to be without foundation in any shape or form” (Hogan 82). Roosevelt traveled to Panama for three days to inspect the site to prove his claims regarding Bigelow and other criticizers. As Hogan (83) explained, Roosevelt was determined to fault Bigelow claims that political leaders were praising the project without conducting ground observations. He wanted to make his campaign credible to convince people that the conditions at the canal were not as bad as the media and some people had portrayed. Apart from changing the Panama Canal narrative, Roosevelt also played a role in improving the working conditions and motivating the workers. He promised that his administration would increase provisions for the workers to ensure that they lived comfortably. He awarded the workers by referring to them as military heroes “who were going along and doing their duty” (Hogan 83). Thus, as Hogan recounts, he assured the workers them recognition such as budges, memorials, and marks. Such a move would make the activities concerning the Panama Canal be associated with greatness and glory, contrary to the initial views that were surrounded by controversies and scandals. Roosevelt’s campaign intensified after his three-day tour to Panama, as other writers, leaders, and speakers joined him in spreading the project’s positive story.
Roosevelt’s efforts succeeded in making the Panama Canal a national symbol. Hogan (85) explained that the workers returned home wearing the medals Roosevelt had promised. The workers were no longer associated with shame and failure like before. The writers and essayists focused on Roosevelt’s efforts and criticized the initial negative critics. The writers insist that the project depicted America’s ingenuity and power because it made the “Caribbean Sea an American Mediterranean” (Hogan 86). The project also illuminated success as part of America’s determination. Hogan (86) explained that the positive critiques illustrated how America’s sanitation efforts were better than the French and Columbians’. The project’s national symbolism culminated from its peculiarity in technological success.
Work Cited
Hogan, Michael J. “Theodore Roosevelt and the Heroes of Panama.” Presidential Studies Quarterly, 1989: 19(1), 79-94.
