Final answer:
Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903, influenced by U.S. strategic interests in building the Panama Canal. The U.S. supported the independence movement and took control of the canal zone after the revolution. The Panama Canal was later returned to Panama, acknowledging its sovereignty.
Step-by-step explanation:
Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903. This separation was greatly influenced by U.S. interests in constructing a canal to shorten the shipping route between California and New York. The narrow isthmus of Panama, previously the northernmost part of Colombia, was viewed by the United States as a strategic location for this purpose. After Colombia hesitated to ratify a treaty with the U.S. to give rights for the canal construction, the Panamanian independence movement gained momentum.
President Theodore Roosevelt took a proactive stance, suggesting that the U.S. would support a Panamanian revolt against Colombian rule. In November 1903, as the revolution unfolded, Roosevelt dispatched American warships to the region, preventing Colombia from quelling the rebellion. Immediately following the revolution, Roosevelt recognized Panama as an independent nation and swiftly negotiated the same terms for the canal that were previously offered to Colombia, making Panama an American protectorate until 1939.
The Panama Canal was an important engineering achievement that was opened in 1914, significantly reducing the travel time for cargo ships between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Initially, the Canal Zone was ceded to the U.S., but after various treaties and international pressures, it was ultimately returned to Panamanian control. President Carter cited the lack of authorization from the Panamanian people for the Canal Zone cession as part of the motivation for returning the canal to Panama, in recognition of international law.