The representation in the Spanish press from the discourse of President Theodore Roosevelt in defense of the construction of the Panama Canal

Abstract

Following the Spanish-American War, President Theodore Roosevelt led a policy of military and commercial expansion. In order to achieve this he relied on a powerful Navy and a canal through Central America, which would be more efficient for the Navy, would improve trade routes and, at the same time, would serve as a prestigious global showpiece for the youthful nation. This article talks about how this President’s political discourse defending the building of the Panama Canal between 1906 and 1909 was portrayed in the Spanish press, bearing in mind the context of Spanish anti-American sentiment which was extolled during the 1898 war.