Description
Book SynopsisMarking the centennial of Panama''s separation from Colombia in 1903, this volume reprises U.S. images of the isthmus a century ago. The editors have collected a fascinating selection of articles from two of the most influential publications of the era, Harper''s Monthly Magazine and the Atlantic Monthly, to illustrate the prejudices and expansionistic rhetoric of the time. An eclectic mix of adventure-seekers, naturalists, scientists, scholars, and travellers all helped a reading public in the United States ''discover'' Panama and the tropics. Their writings show the long evolution of the U.S. debate on the question of Panama and how Americans came to believe control of the isthmus was vital to their economic and political wellbeing. Constituting critically important primary sources, which are virtually unknown among students and scholars today, the articles highlight the intersection of politics, history, technology, and commercial interests in the region. By introducing and organizing these long-forgotten essays in cohesive thematic sections, this book will help readers think more critically and carefully about U.S. foreign policy and the ongoing legacy in U.S.-Latin American relations.
Trade ReviewThis is a very interesting anthology of articles written more than a century ago that illustrate U.S. perceptions of the isthmus of Panama at that time. * British Bulletin of Publications on Latin America, the Caribbean, Portugal and Spain *
This remarkable compilation works because the editors allow the original authors to speak out to us from over a century ago, with all their flaws and misperceptions. It provides excellent background for the emergence of the U.S. as a major power in the twentieth century. -- Michael Conniff, San Jose State University
Table of ContentsPART 1 Part I: The Panama Railroad Chapter 2 A Trip on the Panama Railroad Chapter 3 Panama Railroad Part 4 Part II: The Search for a Route Chapter 5 Darien Exploring Expedition, under Command of Lieut. Isaac C. Strain Chapter 6 Nicaragua: an Exploration from Ocean to Ocean Chapter 7 The New Route Through Chiriqui Chapter 8 The Secret of the Strait Chapter 9 Tehuantepec and the Eads Ship Railway Part 10 Part III: Choosing the Route Chapter 11 Short Cuts Across the Globe Chapter 12 Projects for an Isthmian Canal Chapter 13 The Trans-Isthmian Canal Problem Chapter 14 The Best Isthmian Canal Chapter 15 The Tropical Renaissance Part 16 Part IV: Diplomacy and Strategy of the Isthmian Region Chapter 17 The Isthmus Canal and American Control Chapter 18 Latin and Saxon America Chapter 19 The Diplomacy and Law of the Isthmian Canals Chapter 20 The Strategic Features of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea Part 21 Part V: After Separation Chapter 22 Non-Intervention and the Monroe Doctrine Chapter 23 The Right and Wrong of the Monroe Doctrine
