Question

When the United States decided to build a canal across Central America, Panama was

Answer 1

Answer: part of Colombia

Panama was a department of Colombia for 80 years after achieving its independence from Spain. The territory had joined voluntarily at the end of 1821.

However, there had been several attempts at secession. The United States was interested in the area as they were considering building the Panama Canal. When the Senate of Colombia rejected a treaty with the U. S. that would have enabled the construction of the project, the United States decided to encourage independence.

Panama declared its independence in November 1903, and granted rights to the United States to build the canal, administer it, fortify it and defend it "in perpetuity."

Answer 2

When the United States decided to build a canal across Central America, Panama was a territory that belonged to Colombia.

The purpose of this canal was to connect the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean via Panama. Before it built, the boats had to go across Cape Horn in Chile to pass between these two oceans, which was twice as far as by taking this new route in Central America.

Further explanation

It was France who first tried to build this canal. From 1881 to 1889, the French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had already succeeded in digging the Suez Canal, worked on this project. But unfortunately, a lot of his workers died during construction because of malaria and yellow fever virus. After that, his company went bankrupt, and he was forced to abandon the project.

Panama became independent from Colombia in 1903 after three years of civil war. The United States was at the origin of this war because they secretly financed the separatists of Panama. Once independent, this country became a possession of the United States, and the Americans obtained full powers to build the canal.

The American workers managed to finish the construction this time because they understood that it was the mosquitoes which transmitted the diseases and found techniques to solve it. The Panama Canal officially opened on August 15, 1914.

Learn more

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Answer details

Subject: History

Chapter: The Independence of the 20th Century

Keywords: Central America, Panama, Panama independence, Ferdinand de Lesseps, the canal of Panama history, the building of Panama canal, malaria and yellow fever in Panama