We're a Young Upstart, but We'll Protect It for You

In the 1840s, everyone knew that somebody was going to figure out how to dig a canal through Panama. Columbia didn't have any roads connecting them to Panama, so they couldn't do anything. So it kind of made sense like trusting in the United States is basically our best bet. Maybe they won't fuck us over, which is never a good bet to make with the United States.