Roosevelt became involved in the Panamanian rebellion against Colombia in order to achieve his goal of building the Panama Canal. At the time, the Colombian government was not willing to cooperate with the United States in building the canal, leading Roosevelt to support the Panamanian rebels in their fight for independence. By supporting the rebellion and eventually recognizing the new Republic of Panama, Roosevelt was able to secure a treaty with the new government granting the United States control over the construction and operation of the Panama Canal. This move ultimately allowed for the successful completion of the canal, which was a major strategic and economic asset for the United States.
