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begining of the panama canal
In June 19, 1902 Panama was a province of colombia. Roosevelt had offered colombia $10 million in cash and $250 thousand yearly for rent to allow the United States to build a canal through Panama. Many colombians didnt agree because it would give the United States control over 6 miles wide of Colombian territory. Colombia's Government asked for more money. -
revolt in panama
A revolt took place on November 3, 1903. United States gunboats waited in the haror to provide support for the rebels. United States Marines landed in Colon to prevent Colombian troops from reaching Panama city. The United Stats recognized the independent republic of Panama. -
treaty to buld canal
Three days after the ravolt a Frenchman acting for Panama signed a treaty giving the United States permanent use of a 10 mille wide zone across the Isthmus of Panama. The United States agreed to pay $10 million plus $250 thousand a year for rent. -
disease strikes panama
In 1904, the United States government began to build a canal across Panama. One of the first problems in building the canal was disease. Malaria and Yellow fever were spread through Panama and work to build the canal could not go on until they were controled. Docters soon found out the diseses were spred by mosquitos. They then started draining swamps to get rid the mojority of the mosquitos. -
complications through panama
Americas first year in the Panama mirrired the French disaster. The Cheif engineer neglected to organize the effort or to develop an action plan. The food was putrid, the living conditions abgsmal. Political red tap put a stranglehold on approprations. Disease struck, their was mud slides everywhere, and many peouple died. three out of four americans booked passage home. -
roosevelt visits the canal
On November 11, 1906 Roosevelt visited the Panama canal. It seemed the project could not fail, then on Febuary 12, 1907 a dispirited Chief engineer resigned. Colonel george Washington Goethals, an Army engineer with building experiance took Chielf engineer's place -
finishing the panama canal
On August 15, 1914 the Panama canal was officaly finished. The project took about ten years to build. The world scarcely noticed. German troops were driving across Belgium twords Paris. the newspapers relegated Panama to their back pages. The greatest enginering project of the world had been dwarfted by the totality of World War 1.
