Funding a Panamanian Revolt with a $100,000 Check

The Panamanian independence movement gained momentum when Philippe Bunau-Varilla, a French engineer and key figure in the construction of the Panama Canal, met with Manuel Amador, the leader of the movement. During a meeting in a suite at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York, Bunau-Varilla provided a $100,000 check to support a renewed revolt against Colombian rule. This financial backing was crucial for the insurgents, as it enabled them to organize and execute their plans for independence. In exchange for his support, Bunau-Varilla was appointed as Panama's representative in Washington, D.C., which positioned him to influence U.S. policy regarding the newly independent nation and the canal project. The U.S. Navy's involvement, particularly the dispatch of the USS Nashville, further solidified the success of the revolt, as it provided military support to the Panamanian forces, ensuring that Colombian troops could not suppress the uprising effectively.