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The Beggining
The U.S. Wanted an easier way to trade with asian countries, so instead of going all the way around south America or Canada. They wanted to make a canal in Panama so they could just cut across. Rossevelt offered Columbia $10 milion and $250,000 yearly. Many Columbians refused, because it would give the US control of a 6 mile wide stretch of land. Others thought it was worth more than what the US was offering -
The Revolt
U.S. talks Panama into revolting againist Panama. With the aid of the U.S. Panama became its own republic. To help Panama the US took off the trains of the American railroad leaving Columbian soilders stranded -
Panama the Republic
The U.S. reconizes Panama as its own republic. Panama signs the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty. The U.S. paid Panama the cash we were going to give to Columbia if they agreed. -
It begins
Roosevelt establishes the ICC the look over the consruction of the canal. Roosevelt says he wants "to see dirt fly". He wanted to start construction as soon as possible. -
Struggles
videoYellow fever and malaria were affecting the project bad. Roosevelt called in a doctor named Gorgas. He discovered that misquetos were the cause of the outbreaks.He got ride of most on site, by spraying and taking the water out of swamps. He also made the men wear a net when they slept. Another problem was the land scape. They made the lock system to solve it. They made gates and opened and closed them. They flooded the gates so the boats can rise. -
Roosevelt Visits
President Roosevelt visits Panama to see the progress. This marks the first time a sitting president left the US while in office. While in Panama, Roosevelt signs an excutive order to rework the ICC commission yet again. -
The end
The canal is finished and allowed to be used. There wasn't actually a big uproar when it came out. People were making a bigger deal out of the European wars. -
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summary and reflection
When making the panmal canal the U.S. was facing a lot of problems involing sicknesses and landscape. Roosevelt was so drivin that he hired men like Gorgas to help get ride of a sickness. Eventually we were able to make the landscape work and did it in a little more then a decade.
