“Panic-struck senators, businessmen and everybody else”: Theodore Roosevelt, public opinion, and the intervention in Panama
Subject(s): Bunau-Varilla, Philippe, 1859-1940, Colombia, Cromwell, William Nelson, 1854-1948, Diplomacy, Gorman, Arthur P. (Arthur Pue), 1839-1906, Hanna, Marcus Alonzo, 1837-1904, Hay, John, 1838-1905, Hoar, George Frisbie, 1826-1904, Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924, Loomis, Francis B. (Francis Butler), 1861-1948, Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer), 1840-1914, Monroe doctrine, Moore, John Bassett, 1860-1947, Morgan, John Tyler, 1824-1907, Nicaragua, Panama, Reyes, Rafael, 1851-1921, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Shaw, Albert, 1857-1947, Shaw, Leslie M. (Leslie Mortier), 1848-1932, Spooner, John C. (John Coit), 1843-1919
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John M. Thompson examines the domestic political dimensions of the United States’ efforts to secure a canal zone in Central America. Thompson identifies those who favored canal routes in Nicaragua or Panama, and he looks closely at the Congressional reaction to the revolt in Panama and the United States’ quick recognition of the new nation. Thompson lays out the opposition to the subsequent canal treaty from Democrats and anti-imperialists, and he details the publicity campaign waged by President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration to justify its course of action and win Senate approval of the treaty. Thompson highlights the role of Southern Democrats who supported the treaty because they saw the canal as aiding their region’s economy and because Democrats did not want to be seen as opposing a popular policy of constructing a canal. Thompson concludes his article by examining the various aspects of domestic politics that Roosevelt had to consider when making foreign policy decisions.
Ten photographs and five political cartoons populate the article.
Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Creation Date
2011
Creator(s)
Thompson, John M. (John Mortimer)
Language
English
Period
Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)
Page Count
22
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
No permission is required from the Theodore Roosevelt Association to use items in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal collection for educational purposes. For permissions, contact William Tilchin at (516) 921-6319 or by email at wnt@bu.edu.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
“Panic-struck senators, businessmen and everybody else”: Theodore Roosevelt, public opinion, and the intervention in Panama. [2011]. Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308413. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Thompson, John M. (John Mortimer). “Panic-struck senators, businessmen and everybody else”: Theodore Roosevelt, public opinion, and the intervention in Panama. [2011]. Image.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308413.
APA:
Thompson, John M. (John Mortimer)., [2011]. “Panic-struck senators, businessmen and everybody else”: Theodore Roosevelt, public opinion, and the intervention in Panama.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308413.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
APA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.