Why did the united states encourage panama's declaration of independence from colombia
a) the rebels promised to provide laborers to the united states build the panama canal
b) colombia threatened to attack us workers if they began work on a canal
c) colombia had raised the price for the rights to build the panama canal
d) the rebels promised to allow freedom of religion in panama

The correct answer is C) Colombia had raised the price for the rights to build the Panama Canal.

The United States encouraged Panama's declaration of independence from Colombia because Colombia had raised the price for the rights to build the Panama Canal.

In 1904, the United States started to build the Canal in the Panama  Isthmus. For that to happen, President Theodore Roosevelt invested $40 million to buy French assets that already were there. At that time, the territory belonged to Colombia and that is why the United States supported Panam with military man to demand Panama´s independence. It was until 1903 that the US granted the rights to the canal.

The canal finally opened in 1914 and was transferred to Panama in 1999.