-
Roosevelt makes an offer to columbians to build canal in Panama
Roosevelt offered columbians $10 million in cash and $250,000 yearly in rent to allow united states to build a canal through panama. The canal would be built in Ithmus. Columbians opposed this offer becuase it would give the U.S control of a six mile wide strech of columbian territory. Others said that his deal was worth more money that Roosevelt was offering. Roosevelt was impatient and didnt want to waste time bargining. -
Revolt in panama
U.S. gunboats waited in the harbor to provide suport for the rebels, who did not want to be under columbian rule anymore. U.S. marines were in Colon to prevent hostile columbian trooops from getting to panama city. Americans were alarmed by roosevelts role in revolt, criticizing his gunboat diplomacy. -
Panama treaty is ratified
A frenchmen acting for panama signed a treaty with Roosevelt giving U.S. perminiant use and conrol of a 10 mile wide zone across Isthmus of Panama. U.S. paied $10 million pluss $250,000 per year in rent. -
Building the canal
United States began to build the canal. Roosevelt rushes workers to "make dirt fly". Ferdinand de Lesseps led the project, he estimated it would take 12 years to complete. Building the canla was going to be a long hard job with many obsticals to come. Building the canal through mountians and rivers and damns was going to be hard. -
Struggles to build canal
While building the canal they faceed diseases including yellow fever and malaria. Work on the canal could not continue untill these disseases were cured. They also faced engineering problems, construction of the canal had to cut through a mountian, damn a river, and erect canals giant locks. The nine mile ditch through the mountian was called Gillards cut. Thousands of men worked in all harsh weather, and 6,000 workers died. -
Diseases are cured
Damp nights and mosquitoes caused yellow fever and malaria. Gorgas had nearly wiped out yellow fever and reduced most of the malaria. He did this by clearing brush and draining swamps where mosquitoes lived. -
Panama canal opened
The panama canal opened. The atlantic and pacific oceans were now joined. The canal was finished six months ahead of schedule dispite the delays. The canal was estimated to take 12 years to build but only took 10. Now ships and cargo could travel from sea to sea much eaiser and faster. -
reflection
“He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them. “Acts 17:26. This relates to the buliding of the panama canal becuase the United States is continually growing and expanding. The panama canal connected the Atlantic and the Pacific opening expansion. God has a plan for everything and he will continue to make our world great. The panama canal affects people today by providing a new route for international trade and military transport.
