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The Senate Votes
The U.S. Senate votes to have the Canal Built. Within six months of this vote, John Hay signed a treaty with the Colombian Foreign Minister to have the canal built. The U.S. purchases land from the french for forty million dollars. -
Revolt
Roosevelt secretly told the people of Panama that the United States would help if they claimed independence fom France. A revolt takes place. U.S. gunboats wait in the harbor to help support the rebels. U.S. marines went to Colon to keep hostile Colombian troops from going into Panama City. -
U.S. Recognizes Panama
After the revolt, the United States recognized the independent Republic of Panama. A Frenchman acting for Panama signed a treaty that gave the U.S. permanent control of a 10-mile-wide area across the Isthmus of Panama. -
Canal Commission
Malaria and yellow fever became widespread in Panama. American expert on tropical diseases, William C.Gorgas, helped to fix the problem with disease.
The Isthmian Canal Comission was established by President Roosevelt. -
Complications During Construction
Some of the problems faced during construction of the Panama Canal were diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. The cost of the canal was getting very high- much higher than anticipated before construction began. The Canal was running behind schedule, causing the price of the canal to keep rising. It was hard to find people that were willing to leave the U.S. to help work on the Canal and risk their lives in Panama. -
Construction Begins
Construction on the Panama Canal begins. Roosevelt leaves the United States to go to Panama and visit the canal. This is the first time that a president left the U.S. while in office. -
The Canal Opens
Constructing the Panama CanalAfter nearly a decade, the Panama Canal is opened. It is fifty-miles long. The toll for the canal was only ten-cents. Today, the toll can be up to $450,000 for a large ship.
