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The French plan to Build a Canal
On February 1, 1881, the French started working on a project to build a canal across the Isthmus of Panama to connect the Atlantic and Pacific. Ferdinand De Lesseps, was the leader of this huge project. He wanted a canal to be dug out near the path of the Panama railroad. The job was longed to take at least 12 years. -
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The Panama Canal
It all started with the French starting and failing at building the Panama Canal. Then the U.S. took on the task to build it their selves. But it wasn't as easy as to be thought, we had to get Colombia to sign us a treaty. That didn't happen so Panama won their Independence and sold it to us. After fighting diseases and working long hard hours, we finally accomplished the Panama Canal. Our first trial went great and from then on out the Panama Canal was opened. -
Roosevelt's Offer to Purchase The Panama Canal
The U.S. had a need for the Panama Canal because it would improve shipping, and it would allow our Navy to protect the new overseas empire. Roosevelt offered 10 million dollars and 250,000 dollars in rent every year if Colombia would let us build the canal through Panama. The Colombians thought this would give the U.S. to much territory so the denied our deal. -
Panamanian Revolt Against Colombia
The Panamanians disliked Colombian rule so they planned on a revolt. Roosevelt told them that the U.S. would secretly have their backs if Panama declared Independence. The U.S. keeping their promise set gunboats in the Harbor and Marines went to Colón to protect Panama. They won their Independence and the U.S. congratulated them. -
The Hay-Buneau-Varilla Treaty
The U.S. was then signed a treaty by a frenchman giving us 10 miles of Isthmus in Panama and we paid them the same offer as before. The treaty was called the Hay-Bureau-Varilla Treaty because of the frenchman. As soon as we were signed a treaty, the U.S. went straight to work with hard and long hours. -
The Beginning of construction of the Canal
The Panama Canal zone area was involved in the Atlantic, Central, and the Pacific. Every single different location had a manager that took control and led the work. Lots of channels were being dug out through a wide-spread of land by 1907. The rate of work increased greatly but there became one thing that slowed down work very fast. This work killer was diseases. -
Construction and Workers
The workers being free of diseases got back to work. Constructing this canal had many tasks they needed to accomplish (3). The workers had to work very hard and cut through a mountain, dam a river, and work on the canals giant locks. There were many challenging jobs and digging a 9 mile ditch was one of them. Many supervisors came from the U.S. Also, many other workers from all over the place came to construct this project. -
Digging Deep to Stop Disease
Diseases such as yellow fever and malaria quickly spread and work had then slowed down juristically. A disease expert William C. Gorgas noticed this issue and decided then to look into it. Cuban doctor, Carlos Juan Finlay, figured out mosquitos were the supplier for yellow fever. English doctor, Ronald Ross, found that a different kind of mosquito caused malaria. Gorgas made workers clear out brush and drain swamps to clear out the diseases, this method worked and the workers got back on track. -
Final Touches and Engineering to the Canal
May, 1913, steam shovels broke through the Culebra Cut, and the final amount of cement was poured into the Gatun Locks. Engineers prepared and focused to get ready for the first trial run. The tugboat set out through the canal and everything was complete. -
The Opening of the Canal
On August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal finally opened. The Pacific and Atlantic oceans were finally reached together to form one whole. German troops were headed to Paris when the Canal was opened. The Panama Canal was called the biggest project in the world. -
Reflection
"He makes nations great, an destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them. "Acts 17:26" To enlarge our country, there was a great need for the Panama Canal. In order for the U.S. to build the canal they had to get the approval from Colombia. Panama declared independence and then signed us a treaty. This made the nation great and enlarged it. Many things destroyed the nation such as diseases. But then we were guided when we found cures to the diseases. One done, we were blessed. -
Video over the Panama Canal
