Event Title
American Idealism or Imperialism? An Analysis of the Panama Canal
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Political Science
Mentor Information
Andrew Schlewitz
Department
Area Studies - Latin American Studies
Location
Henry Hall Atrium 81
Start Date
10-4-2013 11:00 AM
End Date
10-4-2013 12:00 PM
Keywords
Historical Perspectives, Social Science, World Perspective
Abstract
The construction of the Panama Canal in 1904 was a foreign policy objective on a scale larger than anything the United States had attempted up to this point in history. The monumental obstacles that impeded its production, as well as the outright monetary cost incurred by the United States, makes it evident that huge returns were expected on such a massive investment to make it worthwhile. This project will analyze the political, economic, and strategic factors behind America's desire to engage in such an undertaking and determine whether or not this enterprise could be ideologically construed as an Imperialist action. Additionally, this project will examine the impact the Panama Canal had in terms of its contribution to the rise of the United States into a regional and global hegemon and resulting consequences.
American Idealism or Imperialism? An Analysis of the Panama Canal
Henry Hall Atrium 81
The construction of the Panama Canal in 1904 was a foreign policy objective on a scale larger than anything the United States had attempted up to this point in history. The monumental obstacles that impeded its production, as well as the outright monetary cost incurred by the United States, makes it evident that huge returns were expected on such a massive investment to make it worthwhile. This project will analyze the political, economic, and strategic factors behind America's desire to engage in such an undertaking and determine whether or not this enterprise could be ideologically construed as an Imperialist action. Additionally, this project will examine the impact the Panama Canal had in terms of its contribution to the rise of the United States into a regional and global hegemon and resulting consequences.