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Roosevelt tries to buy the Isthmus of Panama
Roosevelt offered the Columbian government, $10 million, and $250,000 a year in rent for the right to build a canal through the isthmus of Panama. Unfortunately the Columbian government rejected this offer because they were holding out for more money from the U.S. government. Unfortuneatly this would not happen. -
Revolt in Pamana
A revolt took place in Panama, U.S. gunboats were stationed at the harbor to provide support for the rebels. Marines landed in Colon to prevent hostile Columbian troops from receving panama city. Americans were alarmed by Roosevelt's role in the revolt, criticizing his "gun boat" diplomacy. -
Treaty for the Isthmus
A frenchman acting for Panama signed a treaty giving the U.S. permanent use and control of a 10-mile-wide zone across the Isthmus of Panama. The U.S. agreed to pay $10 million dollars + $250,00 a year in rent -
Panama canal construction begins
The U.S. goverment begins construction on the Panama Canal across the Isthmus of Panama. The construction crew was forced to start construction early, Because pressure from Roosevelt, and the American public. Roosevelt's motto for this was "make it fly". -
Issues with the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal had many issues, whether it be disease, cutting through mountains, or issues with the lock system.
Problems with disease: Yellow fever and malaria were taking many lives in the panama canal. Which almost halted the work until this could be dealt with.
Problems with Giant locks: The panama Canal was supposed to be a sea-level canal, but this couldn't work becuase of panama's uneven terrain. The enginners started devising a lock system to raise and lower the water in each gate. -
Disease solution in Panama.
By 1906 Gorgas had nearly wiped out yellow fever and reduced malaria in Panama. The methods he used were quite erratic and truly suprising. He had drained swamps and sprayed oil to destroy the areas where the mosquitos lived and save lives. -
The Canal is finally finished
After years of hard work the Panama Canal was finished and even done 6 months ahead of schedule. The Canal was finally opened on August 15, 1914. The first ship that went through the canal was the S. S. Ancon. This was the largest american engineering project to date. -
Summary
In Summary, The construction didn't start till the U.S. had made a deal w/ Columbia. This wouldn't happen so the U.S. helped the Panamanians gain their independence in order to let the U.S. build a canal through the Isthmus of Panama. The deal was made and the U.S. built a canal. They faced many problems but over came all of them. The canal was opened on August 15, 1914. -
Works cited
Works CitedAuthority, Panama Canal. "Panama Canal Gallery." BBC. BBC, 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 8 Dec. 2015.Reporter, Associated Press. "China's Plan to Build 25 Billion Euro Rival to Panama Canal across Nicaragua." Dailymail. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2015.Wiles, Russ. "Arizona's Ties to LA Ports Give It a Stake in Canal's
Campbell, Jim. USS Arkansas. 2015. Pinterest, n.p. Expansion." Azcentral. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2015. -
Reflection
In reflection i think this was a great period for American expansionism and the Panamanians aswell. We helped a country gain their independence and also got a canal in the process -
Video of the Panama Canal
Sorry its a little over 5 min, but this was the best one i could find.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?320794-1/panama-canal-construction
