Standards Practice Lesson

US History

Standard 11.4.3

America’s role in the building of the Panama

CanalStandard 11.4.3

Why build a canal?

• When President Roosevelt took office he, as well as many Americans, felt that they needed a canal that cut across Central America to reduce travel time for commercial and military ships by providing a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Hay-Pauncefote Treaty of 1901

• The United States and Britain shared the rights to build a canal since 1850.

• In 1901, Britain and the United States signed the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty of 1901 to give the United States exclusive rights to build and control a canal through Central America.

Where should the canal be built?

Nicaragua

• Fewer obstacles because of a large lake

Panama

• Shorter and filled with mountains and swamps

Engineers identified two possible routes for the canal:

The $40 million purchase

• In the late 1800s, a French company attempted to build a canal through Panama, but gave up after 10 years.

• The French company sent an agent to Washington to convince the United States to buy its claim.

• In 1903, the United States bought the French company’s route for $40 million and decided to use the Panama route.

United States and Panama’s Treaty

• At the time, Panama was a province of Colombia, so the United States had to get permission from Colombia to build the canal.

• These negotiations failed and there was a Panamanian rebellion against Colombia.

• The United States sent warships to assist Panama and on November 3, 1903 they claimed independence.

• Shortly after, the United States signed a treaty with Panama that they would pay Panama $10 million plus an annual rent of $250,000 for the Canal Zone.

Difficulty in constructing the canal

• Builders fought diseases like yellow fever and malaria.

• The soft volcanic soil was difficult to remove.

• Workers had to clear brush and drain swamps.

• More than 5,600 workers on the canal died from accidents or disease.

August 15, 1914

• The Panama Canal opened for business.

• More than 1,000 merchant ships passed through during the first year.

The Panama Canal- how it works

Step 1: A ship enters a lock when the lower gates are open.

Step 2: When all gates are shut, water is let into the lock through a sluice (small gate).

Step 3: When the water has risen, the upper gates are opened, and the ship passes through the lock to the next level.