In the 1903 Panamanian independence movement, the United States backed an uprising arranged by investors from which city?

In the 1903 Panamanian independence movement, the United States backed an uprising arranged by investors from which city?

• A. Boston
• B. Chicago
• C. New York
• D. Philadelphia

Answer: (C)

The move was driven by American interests in building a canal across the Isthmus and the people behind the rebellion were linked to investors based in New York. Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla, representing the New Panama Canal Company, coordinated with New York financiers to organize and fund the uprising. The United States used this arrangement to intervene on the side of the separatists—deploying ships to discourage Colombian forces—and soon recognized the new Republic of Panama, paving the way for the canal treaty. So, the city behind the funding and organization of the uprising was New York.

The move was driven by American interests in building a canal across the Isthmus and the people behind the rebellion were linked to investors based in New York. Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla, representing the New Panama Canal Company, coordinated with New York financiers to organize and fund the uprising. The United States used this arrangement to intervene on the side of the separatists—deploying ships to discourage Colombian forces—and soon recognized the new Republic of Panama, paving the way for the canal treaty. So, the city behind the funding and organization of the uprising was New York.