For centuries man has used water as way of transportation, travel, and trade. From around the start of the 16th century people have been trying to find a way to make a canal across Central America. Many misfortunes and deaths have been sacrificed to try and make that happen. The creation of the Panama Canal by the U.S has been one of the most influential innovation since the beginning of time. The Panama Canal revolutionized and improved international travel by evolving international trade, facilitating an easier pathway for migration to the west coast, and assisting United States’ military dispersement. The creation of the Panama Canal was first attempted by the French. The French canal was originally designed by Ferdinand de
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However, the Colombians (owners of what is now Panama) did not want to sell their land to the United States but the United States refused to let this obstacle stand in their way. To proceed in their efforts to build the canal, the United States encouraged some people, know as that Panamanian Nationalists, to revolt. In turn for our military support of the Panamanian Nationalists, they agreed to allow the United States to build the canal and give us the parcel of land known as the “Canal Zone.” And on November 3, 1903, the revolt broke out and the United States sent a warship down to the Colombian shores in support of the Panamanians. Three short days later, Columbia surrendered and Panama was declared a free nation. Twelve days after Panama won their independence, the Hay- Bunau-Varilla Treaty was signed giving the United States its ticket to build the Panama Canal. Instead of making a sea level canal, the United States developed a plan to build a series of locks. Locks would allow ships to go up and down like steps. They designed three upward locks and three downward locks in the canal. When this system was built, it was one of the greatest works of engineering in history.
The Panama Canal greatly helped trade and the economy of the United States. Before the canal was opened in 1914, total sales for shipping per ton were on the rise. In addition, boats made …show more content…
Many Americans were moving west in order to find land, or to try and find gold. In 1802, California was colonized by the United States and the California gold rush of 1849 soon followed bringing thousands of people with it. By 1900 and 1910, there was a huge increase in population on the west coast of California by over sixty percent. The population in California more than doubled again by 1930. The canal was necessary to supply the goods from the east coast to this booming economy. There was train transportation, but it was not sufficient for this kind of mass migration west. Moving by boat would be much more efficient since one ship could carry a load much greater than that of a train. The canal also allowed the transportation of much greater loads of goods for a fraction of the price of
However, the Colombians (owners of what is now Panama) did not want to sell their land to the United States but the United States refused to let this obstacle stand in their way. To proceed in their efforts to build the canal, the United States encouraged some people, know as that Panamanian Nationalists, to revolt. In turn for our military support of the Panamanian Nationalists, they agreed to allow the United States to build the canal and give us the parcel of land known as the “Canal Zone.” And on November 3, 1903, the revolt broke out and the United States sent a warship down to the Colombian shores in support of the Panamanians. Three short days later, Columbia surrendered and Panama was declared a free nation. Twelve days after Panama won their independence, the Hay- Bunau-Varilla Treaty was signed giving the United States its ticket to build the Panama Canal. Instead of making a sea level canal, the United States developed a plan to build a series of locks. Locks would allow ships to go up and down like steps. They designed three upward locks and three downward locks in the canal. When this system was built, it was one of the greatest works of engineering in history.
The Panama Canal greatly helped trade and the economy of the United States. Before the canal was opened in 1914, total sales for shipping per ton were on the rise. In addition, boats made …show more content…
Many Americans were moving west in order to find land, or to try and find gold. In 1802, California was colonized by the United States and the California gold rush of 1849 soon followed bringing thousands of people with it. By 1900 and 1910, there was a huge increase in population on the west coast of California by over sixty percent. The population in California more than doubled again by 1930. The canal was necessary to supply the goods from the east coast to this booming economy. There was train transportation, but it was not sufficient for this kind of mass migration west. Moving by boat would be much more efficient since one ship could carry a load much greater than that of a train. The canal also allowed the transportation of much greater loads of goods for a fraction of the price of