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Panama Canal Kayla

The Panama Canal opened on August 15, 1914 and provided a faster shipping route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was built by the United States to facilitate trade with Asia by shortening trips between the oceans to 15-20 hours compared to sailing around South America. While costly at $375 million, the canal was profitable and became an important strategic asset and economic driver for both the United States and Panama, handling over 13,000 ships annually. It demonstrated American engineering accomplishments and strengthened its geopolitical influence despite challenges involving its construction and issues of control that had to be addressed over time.

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Diego Fernández
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32 views9 pages

Panama Canal Kayla

The Panama Canal opened on August 15, 1914 and provided a faster shipping route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was built by the United States to facilitate trade with Asia by shortening trips between the oceans to 15-20 hours compared to sailing around South America. While costly at $375 million, the canal was profitable and became an important strategic asset and economic driver for both the United States and Panama, handling over 13,000 ships annually. It demonstrated American engineering accomplishments and strengthened its geopolitical influence despite challenges involving its construction and issues of control that had to be addressed over time.

Uploaded by

Diego Fernández
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Panama Canal

The bridge that sped up trade routes and secured Latin


American influence.

By: Kayla
Date and reason for
building
 The Panama Canal opened up on August 15th, 1914.

 It was built so Europeans could trade with countries in


the eastern and southern parts of Asia.

 It was an easier and faster route for traveling that


shortens the trip through the canal only 15-20 hours
long.
Why?
 The Panama Canal was built by the United States who
signed a treaty with panama to ensure that they would
get full access of it was built.

 It was supposed ot be built in Nicaragua. However it had


a variety of dangerous volcanoes that could ruin the
Canal. Panama was a safer choice.
The Impact
 The Canal was large enough to move larger ships
without getting damaged and gave the city of Panama a
lot of money.

 The US made itself look selfless and looked like it wants


to help the world which advanced civilization.

 The Panamanians did a great job at running the canal


and it became very profitable.
Pros and Cons
 Pro: It was a National Defense Project that protected
invaders coming in from the Atlantic or Pacific ocean. It
was an easy way to carry tons of supplies back and forth
instead of going all the way around South America.

 Con: It cost $375 Million to build the canal without


knowing if it would even succeed in the year of 1914
was a lot of money.
Pros and Cons
 Pro: Panama became a friend to the United States which
gave America a major income service because Panama is
such a small place that they use American money.

 Con: Panama is able to elect officers for their country


and this became a threat to the United States because
this could interfere with the security and economy of the
United States in the future. The United States could
possibly lose control of Panama.
Control today
 Panama has full control of the Canal today because they
created the Panama Canal Treaty which gave them full
control of the Canal.

 The traffic is become very busy and ships are having to


wait in line for too long too get through so more ships
just travel around South America.
Was it worth it?
 Even though more than 25,000 workers died in the
construction of the canal, it was a smart decision to
build the Canal. Between 13,000 and 14,000 ships go
through the canal every year and it is one of the main
money suppliers for the country of Panama. The United
States made this Canal to protect themselves and to ally
with Panama.
Works Citied
 "American Experience: TV's Most-watched History Series." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 19
Mar. 2015.

 "Building the Panama Canal, 1903–1914 - 1899–1913 - Milestones - Office of the


Historian." Building the Panama Canal, 1903–1914 - 1899–1913 - Milestones - Office of the
Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.

 Rosenberg, Matt. "Panama Canal - History and Overview." N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar.
2015.

 "7 Fascinating Facts About the Panama Canal." History.com. A&E Television
Networks, 15 Aug. 2014. Web. 08 Mar. 2015.

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