Okla-homey
9/7/2006, 05:49 AM
September 7, 1977: Carter agrees to transfer Panama Canal to Panama
Twenty-nine years ago on this day in 1977, President Jimmy Carter signs a treaty that will give Panama control over the Panama Canal beginning in the year 2000. The treaty voided an agreement signed in 1904 between then-President Theodore Roosevelt and Panama, which gave the U.S. the right to build the canal and a renewable lease to control five miles of land along either side of it known as the US Panama Canal Zone.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3953/bbbcar0032rc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
President Carter shakes hands with President Torrijos of Panama after signing the Panama Canal Treaty on this day in 1977
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5061/bbbcarterpanamacanalpinua4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The move wasn't very popular in many quarters in America and the people did in fact refuse to re-elect Carter in 1980 instead electing Ronaldus Maximus
The desire for a shorter route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans had a long history, beginning with the Spanish explorers of the 16th century. Before the canal was built, ships were required to travel around the treacherous Cape Horn of South America, a journey that frequently resulted in great loss of life and cargo.
From 1869 to 1877, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant authorized no less than seven feasibility studies of a canal across the thin Panamanian isthmus. In 1881, a French consortium of investors hired Suez Canal designer Ferdinand deLesseps to build a canal through Panama. The French project was called off in 1888, however, after workers died by the thousands from disease and construction accidents.
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/7902/bbbbbb500pxcountriespanamaprovinces20051018enzu5.p ng (http://imageshack.us)
The country of Panama itself was a creature of the US's making, having been stripped from Colombia in a brazen bit of US imperialism which was pretty darn slick. Theodore Roosevelt had dilgently pursued United States diplomatic efforts to facilitate a deal with Colombia that would allow it to take over the halted French canal construction operations. The Colombians balked so TR tried a different approach.
In November 1903, a small number of wealthy Panamanian landowners (mostly banana plantations) led by a covert separatist junta presided by Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero, made a deal with the Roosevelt adminstration to "secede" from Colombia in exchange for the support, military protection and endorsement by the US of them as the legitimate authority in the new nation.
On November 3, 1903, alleging Colombian tyranny and a host of other affronts to their human rights reminiscent of the US Declaration of Independence written entirely in the United States, Panama declared its independence from Colombia. The President of the Municipal Council, Demetrio H. Brid, highest authority at the time, became its de facto President, appointing on November 4 a Provisional Government to run the affairs of the new republic.
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/5048/bbbpanamamaplb5.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Predictably, the United States was the first country to recognize the new Republic of Panama and sent troops to protect the baby nation. The 1904 Constituent Assembly elected Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero, a prominent member of the Conservative political party, as the first constitutional President of the Republic of Panama.
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/4522/bbbguerreronz0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Manuel Amador Guerrero, Panama's first president.
In December 1903 representatives of the new republic signed the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty which granted rights to the United States to build and administer indefinitely the Panama Canal. Now, with a friendly "puppet" government installed and functioning, the way ahead was diplomatically and politically unobstructed.
In 1904, the American phase of building the canal across Panama was green lighted by Congress which appropriated the bucks; the effort was led by American engineer John Stevens.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5203/bbbb1905stevensrb3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
John Stevens
Although death from jungle diseases decreased with the implementation of an improved sanitation system, designed by Dr. William Gorgas which mostly involved mosquito eradication, the project dragged on so long that engineer Stevens quit in despair.
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5562/bbb1910culebracutfr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Construction of the canal involved a buttload of digging
Two years into the project in November 1906, in an attempt to boost flagging morale and dwindling Congressional support for the project, Roosevelt visited and posed for photographs at the site, sitting at the controls of an ginormous steam-shovel.
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/7883/bbbbpanamacanalxa6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
TR is his white suit and "panama hat" at the controls of a steam shovel
In 1914, after 10 years, Roosevelt’s perseverance paid off; the 51-mile-long canal opened on August 15. The engineer who took over for Stevens quipped at the opening of the canal that "the real builder of the Panama Canal was Theodore Roosevelt."
The canal facilitated increased passenger travel and cargo shipments between nations around the world and U.S. control over the canal helped guarantee America’s status as an international power because we controlled the canal and could legally regulate it by authority of the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5125/bbbpanamacanalsg3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Transfer of ownership of the Panama Canal occurred peacefully as planned on December 31, 1999.
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5069/insane7zobe4.jpg
Twenty-nine years ago on this day in 1977, President Jimmy Carter signs a treaty that will give Panama control over the Panama Canal beginning in the year 2000. The treaty voided an agreement signed in 1904 between then-President Theodore Roosevelt and Panama, which gave the U.S. the right to build the canal and a renewable lease to control five miles of land along either side of it known as the US Panama Canal Zone.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3953/bbbcar0032rc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
President Carter shakes hands with President Torrijos of Panama after signing the Panama Canal Treaty on this day in 1977
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5061/bbbcarterpanamacanalpinua4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The move wasn't very popular in many quarters in America and the people did in fact refuse to re-elect Carter in 1980 instead electing Ronaldus Maximus
The desire for a shorter route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans had a long history, beginning with the Spanish explorers of the 16th century. Before the canal was built, ships were required to travel around the treacherous Cape Horn of South America, a journey that frequently resulted in great loss of life and cargo.
From 1869 to 1877, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant authorized no less than seven feasibility studies of a canal across the thin Panamanian isthmus. In 1881, a French consortium of investors hired Suez Canal designer Ferdinand deLesseps to build a canal through Panama. The French project was called off in 1888, however, after workers died by the thousands from disease and construction accidents.
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/7902/bbbbbb500pxcountriespanamaprovinces20051018enzu5.p ng (http://imageshack.us)
The country of Panama itself was a creature of the US's making, having been stripped from Colombia in a brazen bit of US imperialism which was pretty darn slick. Theodore Roosevelt had dilgently pursued United States diplomatic efforts to facilitate a deal with Colombia that would allow it to take over the halted French canal construction operations. The Colombians balked so TR tried a different approach.
In November 1903, a small number of wealthy Panamanian landowners (mostly banana plantations) led by a covert separatist junta presided by Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero, made a deal with the Roosevelt adminstration to "secede" from Colombia in exchange for the support, military protection and endorsement by the US of them as the legitimate authority in the new nation.
On November 3, 1903, alleging Colombian tyranny and a host of other affronts to their human rights reminiscent of the US Declaration of Independence written entirely in the United States, Panama declared its independence from Colombia. The President of the Municipal Council, Demetrio H. Brid, highest authority at the time, became its de facto President, appointing on November 4 a Provisional Government to run the affairs of the new republic.
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/5048/bbbpanamamaplb5.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Predictably, the United States was the first country to recognize the new Republic of Panama and sent troops to protect the baby nation. The 1904 Constituent Assembly elected Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero, a prominent member of the Conservative political party, as the first constitutional President of the Republic of Panama.
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/4522/bbbguerreronz0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Manuel Amador Guerrero, Panama's first president.
In December 1903 representatives of the new republic signed the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty which granted rights to the United States to build and administer indefinitely the Panama Canal. Now, with a friendly "puppet" government installed and functioning, the way ahead was diplomatically and politically unobstructed.
In 1904, the American phase of building the canal across Panama was green lighted by Congress which appropriated the bucks; the effort was led by American engineer John Stevens.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5203/bbbb1905stevensrb3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
John Stevens
Although death from jungle diseases decreased with the implementation of an improved sanitation system, designed by Dr. William Gorgas which mostly involved mosquito eradication, the project dragged on so long that engineer Stevens quit in despair.
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5562/bbb1910culebracutfr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Construction of the canal involved a buttload of digging
Two years into the project in November 1906, in an attempt to boost flagging morale and dwindling Congressional support for the project, Roosevelt visited and posed for photographs at the site, sitting at the controls of an ginormous steam-shovel.
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/7883/bbbbpanamacanalxa6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
TR is his white suit and "panama hat" at the controls of a steam shovel
In 1914, after 10 years, Roosevelt’s perseverance paid off; the 51-mile-long canal opened on August 15. The engineer who took over for Stevens quipped at the opening of the canal that "the real builder of the Panama Canal was Theodore Roosevelt."
The canal facilitated increased passenger travel and cargo shipments between nations around the world and U.S. control over the canal helped guarantee America’s status as an international power because we controlled the canal and could legally regulate it by authority of the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5125/bbbpanamacanalsg3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Transfer of ownership of the Panama Canal occurred peacefully as planned on December 31, 1999.
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5069/insane7zobe4.jpg