Why did the United
States want to build
the Panama Canal?
What were the benefits?
DO NOW: Take notes on the
construction of the Panama Canal.
Pgs. 704-706
Panama
The United States had dreamed of building
a canal across Panama. The country is an
isthmus, or a narrow strip of land
connecting two larger bodies of land and
bordered by water on both sides.
The Isthmus of Panama
The Panama Canal
A canal would shorten
the time and distance
that ships would travel
from the Atlantic to the
Pacific Oceans,
eliminating the long
sea voyage around
South America.
How the land deal was acquired
Panama belonged to a larger country called
Colombia.
Roosevelt wanted the government of
Colombia to sign a treaty allowing the
United States to build a canal through
Panama.
The Colombians thought the treaty was
unfair and refused to sign it.
continued
Roosevelt was impatient and thought it would be
easier to deal with the people of Panama.
Not all Panamanians were happy being part of
Colombia and many wanted independence.
In 1903, Roosevelt quickly sided with the
revolutionaries and sent two gunboats to Panama
to lend support against Colombia.
continued
The revolution lasted 3 days and Panama
became an independent nation.
12 days later a treaty was signed between
the US and Panama.
Unfortunately for the Panamanians, the
deal they signed was worse than the one
given to the Colombians.
The Treaty
Americans were given permission to build a canal.
They were given an enormous territory in which to
build the canal, called the Canal Zone.
Panama was given less money than that
promised to the Colombians and the US promised
to protect Panama’s independence.
Construction of the Canal
Building the canal was a great engineering
feat. Thousands of workers labored for 10
years to carve a path through dense jungle
and over mountains.
They created a human-made lake and built locks
to raise and lower ships to different water levels.
Major Obstacles
Disease
The region was damp, tropical jungle, hot and
swarming with mosquitoes that carried yellow
fever and malaria. An army doctor, Colonel
William Gorgas, went to Panama to fight and
eventually eliminate yellow fever and reduce
cases of malaria.
Working on the canal
Punishing tropical sun.
By noontime, temperatures would reach 100 degrees and
sometimes 130 degrees.
Air was hot and humid.
The work site was a slippery, treacherous sea of mud.
Constant harsh racket from trains, drills and steam
shovels were earsplitting.
The air was blackened by the coal smoke that powered
from the locomotives and steam shovels.
Working on the canal
After the workers left for the day, dynamite
charges were exploded.
Night crews worked on refueling and repairing
machinery, moving railroad tracks, and preparing
for the next way’s work.
Accidents were a constant worry. Dynamite
exploded unexpectedly when struck by lightning
or steam shovel scoop. Many workers died or lost
arms and legs in accidents.
Opening and Benefits
The Panama Canal opened on August 15,
1914. The Ancon, a cargo ship, made the
first trip. The canal reduced shipping costs,
help extend American naval power, and
guaranteed a strong American presence in
Latin America.
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