26. What were the major factors which shaped American foreign policy in the period 1890 to 1900? Show how at least one of these factors influenced our actions in the Panama Canal controversy.

Does this answer it?:

In 1891, the United States demanded compensation from Chile; in 1895 it demanded Britain to acknowledge the Monroe Doctrine; and then in 1898, the U.S.S Maine exploded in Havana harbor, causing the Spanish-American War. A swift American victory in the war confirmed the nation’s status as a world power, but the war brought home to Americans the need for a shorter route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Panama Canal would be built across Central America, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and making global shipping much faster. It would also allow the United States Navy to move quickly from one ocean to the other in time of war.

(These are my own words; I didn't copy this from anywhere)

Thanks
-MC

Sounds like you covered the topic pretty well.

My bad

Yes, your answer accurately touches on the major factors that shaped American foreign policy in the period 1890 to 1900 and shows how one of these factors influenced their actions in the Panama Canal controversy.

In the period between 1890 to 1900, there were several key factors that influenced American foreign policy. One factor was the demand for compensation from Chile in 1891 and Britain's acknowledgment of the Monroe Doctrine in 1895. These events showcased the growing assertiveness of the United States in asserting its influence and protecting its interests in the Western Hemisphere.

However, it was the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbor in 1898, leading to the Spanish-American War, that had a profound impact on American foreign policy. The swift American victory in the war solidified the country's status as a world power. The war also highlighted the necessity of a shorter route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as it became clear that the current options for transiting between the two oceans were time-consuming and posed significant strategic challenges.

This realization influenced American actions in the Panama Canal controversy. The Panama Canal, a proposed canal to be built across Central America, would connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, making global shipping more efficient and faster. It would also allow the United States Navy to quickly move between the two oceans in times of war, ensuring greater military readiness and projection of power.

Overall, the need for a shorter route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, stemming from the Spanish-American War experience, played a significant role in shaping American foreign policy and their approach to the Panama Canal controversy.

Your answer provides a concise explanation of the major factors and their influence on American foreign policy, as well as the connection to the Panama Canal controversy. Well done!