Question

Why did President Roosevelt support the rebels in Panama when they declared independence from Colombia? The rebels promised to provide laborers to help the US build the Panama Canal. Colombia threatened to attack US workers if they began work on a canal. Colombia had raised the price for the rights to build the Panama Canal. The rebels promised to allow freedom of religion in Panama.

Answer 1

Colombia threatened to attack US workers if they began work on a canal.

It wasn't so much that they threatened to attack, but that they rejected the treaty that would have allowed the US to work there. However, that answer is the most correct given the circumstances.

Answer 2

Correct answer: Colombia had raised the price for the rights to build the Panama Canal.

Details:

As reported by the Office of the Historian of the United States:  "President Theodore Roosevelt oversaw the realization of a long-term United States goal—a trans-isthmian canal" across the Isthmus of Panama.  With Teddy Roosevelt in the White House, in 1902 the US Senate approved the building of a canal through Panama.  Roosevelt's Secretary of State then went to work to arrange a treaty with Colombia (then in control of the Panama region).  When Colombia ended up rejecting the US's offer because they thought the financial offer too low, President Roosevelt sent US naval warships to support the cause of Panama's independence from Colombia.  After Panama achieved independence (with US support) in 1903, the new country, the Republic of Panama, agreed to treaty terms with the US for the building of the canal.  The Panama Canal was completed in 1914.