The Panama Canal : Mediation by the USA in the Panamanian Independence from Gran Colombia

The separation of the country of Panama from what was then known as Gran Colombia was a conflict that was fueled mainly by third party interests and mutual benefits for Panama and the United States. The United States mediated and intervened within the political independence of Panama from Colombia for multiple reasons including but not limited to: financial, martial, and transportational convenience. This is mostly due to the isthmus, or the landmass with the shortest distance from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Before Panama gained its independence in 1904, it was ruled by Gran Colombia, “The first Latin American nation to be recognized by any power” (Conniff 2012). The United States recognized the independence of Panama before Gran Colombia did in order to gain access and building rights to begin the construction of the Panama canal. This left the Panamanian government stuck in “... a tumultuous political existence under Gran Colombian governance” (Conniff, 2012). Although the United States benefited the most out of the three parties involved in this conflict, all three parties had a few incentives for allowing, or being forced, to have a mediating third party