While many Americans had favored a canal in Panama, critics accused Roosevelt of stealing the canal from Colombia by supporting the Panamanian revolution. They claimed it was an example of Roosevelt's "Big Stick" policy, termed after a WestAfrican proverb Roosevelt liked to quote: "Speak softly and carry a big stick and you will go far." They claimed that the U.S. used the threat of military action in Panama to help the rebels and prevent Colombia from putting down the rebellion. Supporters, however, claimed that the U.S. had played no role in the revolt and was simply protecting its interests in sending warships to Panama. Did Roosevelt take the right course of action in Panama?
While many Americans supported the building of the Panama Canal, some saw Roosevelt's actions in support of the canal as pushing the boundaries of presidential power, as parodied in this 1904 cartoon.
