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U.S. Struggles to Gain Control
Panama was a province of Columbia. Roosevelt offered Columbia $10 million in cash and $250,000 a year for rent in order to build a canal. Columbia held out because it would give America control of Columbian Territory and some thought the land rights were worth more than what wa offered. -
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Panama Canal
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Revolt in Panama
U.S. gunboats waited in the harbor to show support for Panamanian Rebels. U.S. marines landed in Colon to prevent hostile Columbian troops from reaching Panama City. Rebels succeeded and the U.S. immediately recognized Panama as Independent. The American people were shocked at the Roosevelt's involvement in Panama's revolt. -
U.S. Gains Access to Panama
After the revolt America immediately recognized Panama as indepdent. Because the U.S. helped Panama acheive freedom they signed a treaty giving the U.S. permanent use and control of and ten-mile wide zone across the Isthmus of Panama. In return the U.S. agreed to pay ten million plus 250,000 dollars a year in rent. -
U.S. Begins to Build the Panama Canal
1904, the Americans' first year in Panama, mirrored the French disaster. The head engineer, John Fidlay Wallace, neglected the effort to put together an action plan. The Americans faced many struggles, one being diseases killing many. Three out of four American workers in Panama booked passage home, including Mr. Wallace. The arrival of Wallace's replacement , John Stevens, marked a turn in fortunes for the beleaguered canal. His new plan would ultimately save the canal. -
Struggles of Building the Panama Canal
1904 In Panama was trully awful. The American workers faced many difficulties.The food was putrid and the living conditions abysmal. Political red tape put a stronghold on appropriations. Soon disease struck killing and affecting many. Three out of four Americans booked passage home, including Wallace. The Americans spent $128 million into the swamps of Panama for little to no result. -
Gorges Nearly Wipes Out Yellow Fever
Dr. William Gorges helped eradicate yellow fever in Havana years before by killing the mosquitoes that carried it. Gorges directed sanitation efforts. Workers drained swamps, swept drainage ditches, paved roads and installed plumming. They sprayed pesticides by the ton. With Gorges' effort and help the rate of yellow fever cases dropped dramatically. -
Panama Canal Opens
After years and years of hard work and plannng by The Panama Canal fianlly opened. Although it was the greatest engineering project in the history of the world had been dwarfed by the totality of World War I. -
Summary and Reflection
Years of hard work, resources and money were put into the greatest engineering project only to be dwarfed by the tragic World War I. During this difficult project the workers faced many problems. Such as poor living conditions and diseases. Dispite the little attention it got, because of the war, it was still remembered as the Greatest Engineering project.
