UPCA and the Nicaragua Canal

[rewster]

The UPCA, or United Provinces of Central America, was a nation that existed between 1823 and 1840. It was a federation of several central american states, and one of the objectives of this nation was to build a canal through Nicaragua that would make the UPCA an economic force due to the large amounts of trade generated. (This was a long time before the Panama Canal). The government didn't last due to opposition from wealthy conservative land owners...
But what if it had, and had been successful in obtaining US funds for the building of the canal? The US would have a vested interest, due to the desire for rapid transit between NYC and San Francisco.
What role would such a nation play today, if it's canal had been approved, and thus the detractors who eventually brought the government down OTL had been hushed?

 

[NHBL]

A 51st state

With the expansionist tendencies of the USA, I'd say there's a good chance that it would end up as a 51st state sooner or later. The first unrest, and the USA would drop in marines to keep order, then absent mindedly gobble it up.
Either that, or the nation's first dispute with a European power would see the same thing--the USA drops in and sets up shop, since a foreign power controling this waterway would be out of the question.

A sea level canal in American hands means something else as well--American battleships might not be limited to 108 feet in beam, since a canal without locks is much easier to widen. (To my knowledge, the US has had only one battleship that couldn't fit through the canal.)

 

[JLCook]

About the US Battleship that can't fit in the Canal

It could only have been USS MONTANA,BB67, which was never built. EVERYTHING, up to and including USS ILLINOIS, BB66, (not completed) would fit through the canal!

 

[Grey Wolf]

The UPCA, or United Provinces of Central America, was a nation that existed between 1823 and 1840. It was a federation of several central american states, and one of the objectives of this nation was to build a canal through Nicaragua that would make the UPCA an economic force due to the large amounts of trade generated. (This was a long time before the Panama Canal). The government didn't last due to opposition from wealthy conservative land owners...
But what if it had, and had been successful in obtaining US funds for the building of the canal? The US would have a vested interest, due to the desire for rapid transit between NYC and San Francisco.
What role would such a nation play today, if it's canal had been approved, and thus the detractors who eventually brought the government down OTL had been hushed?

Funds before 1840 ?

You're gonna need to convince Andrew Jackson...

Grey Wolf